terrible t's blah, blah, blog.

quirks

2012-02-24T21:32:00.001-07:00

Even though I loved this, I never pinned it on pinterest. I must have been saving it for you.

Today I have been thinking about some of my quirks (AKA my OCD tendencies) like...

Even though I can go a week without washing my hair; I start to twitch if I don't shave my legs (or floss my teeth now) every 24 hours. Literally. You can ask Lee about it if you want. Winter, Summer, pants, skirts, going to work, staying home, it doesn't matter, I have to shave my legs. I remember when Lee and I started dating whenever he touched my leg he would say, "smoooooth," and I thought it was so weird. I remember thinking, "Did all the girls you dated before me have prickly legs all the time or something?" Well, apparently I am the weird one. I am pretty sure he thought that would change when we got married. Oh, how wrong he was. Dear Lee, remember the time I shaved my legs at 11:00 PM because I could not go to bed with prickly legs? Yes, true story.

Lee always leaves a cup next to the sink to drink water from though out the day without dirtying tons of cups. How thoughtful right? Well, every day I put it away about 3 times a day which makes it so all the dishes get dirty anyway. He nicely reminds me of why the cup is there, but I am like a robot. I am not even thinking when I put it away I am just like (and read the following in a robot voice) "Must. Clean. House."

Most of my quirks have to do with cleaning and I am pretty sure the shaven legs thing is related to it.

Another thing that makes my OCD senses tingle is when I see people (men & children) with their shirt on backwards. You can always tell when someone has their shirt on backwards because it looks like their shirt is on the verge of choking them to death. Drives me nuts. How can that be comfortable?

Ladies, how often do you shave your legs?

Are you a clean freak? (like me)

Cooking for Two Tuesday: breakfast for din-din

2012-02-21T19:04:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you just need some pancakes for dinner.

The trouble with eating pancakes for dinner is that you feel as if you've already eaten dessert. 30 minutes after dinner I usually get up and treat myself to some oreos and milk, but when I eat pancakes for dinner, I am already sugared out and it's very confusing unto me. This is followed by a battle within my head if I should eat some veggies as dessert since I ate dessert as dinner? I usually just drink some water and frown.

But without further ado: cooking for two: pancakes for dinner.

You were warned.

Supplies needed:

eggs (scrambled eggs)
milk (to drink)
syrup (sugar, brown sugar, water, & maple flavoring)
pancakes (white flour, wheat flour, oats, baking soda, salt, sugar, egg, milk, oil) recipe
cooking spray

prep time: 20-ish minutes
downside: you don't feel like you deserve dessert & it's hard to keep it all warm at the same time
upside: breakfast, who doesn't love breakfast? oat/wheat pancakes: mmmm very filling!

ingredient

2012-02-18T09:57:00.002-07:00

Why I eat oatmeal every day:

Just oatmeal, no ingredients that sound like another language.

Cooking for Two: Sunday Dinner Edition

2012-02-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

More like dinner for 6-8 (AKA dinner for 2 with oodles of leftovers ~ which I am good with)

FYI: I added more potatoes and carrots, but I wanted the meat to show in my picture. That way, if any vegetarians visit my page I can offend them (joke).

STEP ONE: Buy supplies at the store: roast, potatoes, carrots, optional: onions, celery, olive oil, spices.
STEP TWO: Put a little water on the bottom, put the roast in, put seasoning on top
(for me that means 1/4-1/2 onion, tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley).
STEP THREE: Wash your veggies, cut up all your veggies, and plop them on the top of the meat. Add more seasonings if desired.
STEP FOUR: There is no step four! Ha! You're done, just go about your day and dinner is ready in 6-8 hours.

But, for me, I can't only eat the roast with the veggies that cooked in the same pot with the roast, because IMHO pot roast veggies taste too much like the pot roast. So, of course, I steamed some broccoli. Then we ate these nummy homemade rolls we had on hand. I am kind of obsessed with baking bread these days. Maybe someday I can write a post about the magical 1:00 PM hour on Saturdays when my house smells like clean toliets, fresh laundry, and baking bread, basically my idea of heaven. Don't ask me for the (bread) recipe, unless you're a Chesnut, because it might be a family secret, or it might be from Betty Crocker, who knows these things? Certainly, not me.

And just for fun, I found this image on Lee's computer and I have no idea if he found it online somewhere or made it himself. I like to think he made it, because then it is just that much better.

I hope you have a Michael Scott kind of Valentine's Day, whatever that means.

nothing

2012-02-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

I am not an artist
I am not a photographer
I am not a writer
so what is the blog about/for?

like the great, Seinfeld: nothing

but sometimes nothing can be something after all

Cooking for Two Tuesday

2012-02-07T20:54:00.002-07:00

Well, this post will not be as awesome/detailed as my last cooking for two Tuesday, but the food was pretty awesome. I attempted my first try at making homemade pizza. I used this recipe for the dough. I did use all purpose flour instead of bread flour and it was fine. I used store bought pizza sauce, because one thing at a time right? It turned out pretty darn good, but the crust/edge part was pretty dry (compared to the greasy take out pizzas we are used to). Next time, I would put a light coating of butter on the crust area for just a little bit more flavor.

This dinner did take a while to prep since the bread has to rise (the recipe says 30 min, but I usually have to let dough rise in the oven with a pot of hot water and it still takes an hour for me). All in all it took about half an hour to prepare everything, 1 hour to rise, and 20 minutes to cook.

We also had salad, FYI, but I was too excited to try the pizza to stop and take a pic of the salad.

Happy Cooking!

Cooking for Two Tuesday

2012-01-31T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have decided that it is time. Time for me to have a little something I will call a weekly feature. Hopefully it will help me to update my blog at least once a week and add some variety to the creativity going on in my kitchen!

So I am happy to announce Cooking for Two Tuesday. So this is all wonderful and exciting. This is how it will work: Every Tuesday I am going to post something I made for dinner in the past week (hopefully something different each week). I am excited about this because I have heard a lot of people say that cooking for two is a waste/pain and I have also heard some people say it is difficult to come up with/make healthy dinners.

Now I am not going to say I am super healthy, because I am not, but I am going to try to post healthy dinners.

And before you even ask/wonder, yes, I really do eat that much broccoli, but I will try not to have broccoli in every dinner I post.

And second of all, I just think you should be aware, one of my main goals in planning/cooking dinners is to use whatever fresh produce is available before it goes bad, so this means I include a lot of produce. I usually get my produce from bountiful baskets. Which I posted about once before, remember? When you buy these you get a lot of fruits and veggies and I try really hard to make sure we don't waste it.

So without further ado here is our first featured dinner:

Prepared in 20 minutes from start to finish.

BLT Sandwiches
Steamed Broccoli
Cucumber
Pomegranate

Items needed:

broccoli, half of a cucumber, one tomato, one pomegranate, lettuce, bread, bacon, mayo, and I also used, but did not photograph: butter, salt, & pepper.

The thing that takes the longest in this dinner is steaming broccoli (15 minutes including water heat up) & cooking the bacon, also about 15 minutes. So I begin by cooking those items and then working on washing, preparing, and cutting the rest of the produce while those are cooking.

You might have noticed I added an egg to one of the sandwiches for a little extra protein, so that's another/different option.

If you are wondering how I got that pomegranate into that adorable little bowl just check out this video. Youtube is my secret weapon when it comes to cooking.

What are you cooking tonight?

success

2012-01-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that reading this...

could help me turn this....

into this...?

I finally achieved success and learned how to work my new sewing machine!

Merry Christmas to me!

I think I also got some help from that big chill,

<-----this guy,

and the Meg Ryan movie I was watching.

move over redbox

2012-01-27T17:18:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I hate redbox.
The movies you want are never there and they have such limited selection.
Of course, when redbox came out I was just like everyone else.
Ohhh, aww, a movie for a dollar. This is genius! Who needs blockbuster? Right?
Wrong! We were all wrong.
I hate that video stores don't exist anymore. I just want to go to the video store and peruse around with my significant other and stop and chat with my long lost friends and have the option of renting a really old movie sometimes. Yes? I know you are agreeing right now.

I have been wanting to watch An Affair to Remember for quite some time.

One of my favorite movies is Sleepless in Seattle. If you've seen it, and I hope you have, you would know that all the women in the movie go nuts over the movie An Affair to Remember. They act like it's the greatest love story to ever grace the silver screen. So after all of this build up I want to see it.
But I don't want to buy it, I don't even know if I'm going to like it.

So I had this genius idea to rent it from the library.
And you know what? They had it.
And they only made me pay 50 cents to rent it for a full week.
Now that is just ridiculous.
And you know what else?
They had the entire series of Arrested Development right there in the "A' section of the movies.
I am pretty sure I am going back next week.
Public library, you coy little minx. Who knew?

PS: Don't mind the photo I am just trying to emulate Deborah Kerr's sexy face she is making towards Cary Grant. It did not really work, but this was the best out of ten and I am making goo goo eyes at a DVD case, not Cary Grant.

Have you seen Sleepless in Seattle? or An Affair to Remember?

birthday celebrations

2012-01-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Last week we celebrated the master's birthday

festivities included Texas Roadhouse dinner and going bowling

not sure what was the most exciting part:

the fact that there was a swat team outside the ghetto bowling alley when we arrived

going to the restaurant early enough for the old people (early bird) special

I definitely think I planned a better celebration for Lee last year.

My name is Tiffany and I am not good at birthdays.

time to repent

lately

2012-01-24T22:23:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing lately? Oh ya know, just making bread with my amazing new kitchen aid mixer. Thanks to Lee's parents for our much too generous Christmas gift. Homemade bread (and rolls) are my favorite. I am excited to try out my favorite cookie recipe without the motor burning up on our old hand mixer.
I've also been spending my time daydreaming about cardigans, scarves and shirts with ruffles.
I know, you do that too, right?

And of course, I've been taking great photos of Biff doing his famous pose/face known around these parts as the "half smile." Doesn't looking at it just make your day?

pink

2012-01-22T14:09:00.001-07:00

Do you like wearing pink?

Me? Not so much.

I usually reserve this type of behavior for things like Valentine's Day.

This week was someone's birthday.

Someone who thinks I look good it in pink.

name that movie

2012-01-08T17:43:00.002-07:00

only the most quote-able girl movie of all time

if you know what it is

and if you loved it

you can be my new best friend

gifts from kids

2011-12-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

now this student really knows me

getting gifts from kids is the best.
whether it's a macaroni necklace or a homemade card, gifts from kids are so much more original and full of thought than most gifts from adults.

this random calendar of dogs doing yoga poses totally made my day.

PS: I wish I could give gifts (and shop for them) with the same innocence and wonder a child does.

tuesday tidbits

2011-12-06T17:48:00.001-07:00

sometimes you go to the wendy's because you're craving a burger and the husband isn't home.

side note: I would've just cooked a healthy dinner for his benefit. I am try to trick him into eating as many fruits and vegetables as I can so he'll live longer than me.

doesn't this picture seem like the caption should be: ahoy matey?!
and why do I look cross-eyed? yo, I am hot.

whenever I go to get fast food they trick me

into ordering a huge fry and drink by saying: medium or large?

then I say medium

and they charge me an extra 50 cents and I get fries as big as my face

note to self:

value size = tiffany size

medium size = I just ran 10 miles and I'm really hungry size

large size = I just ran a marathon so give me everything on the menu size

don't worry though, I don't waste food so I ate it all anyway

didn't I already talk about this in a post before?

the drink was the size of my face too

but that's the size sodas should be right?

this picture totally reminds me of my brother who apparently went through a phase where he would hold up stuff in front of his face when you tried to take a picture, because it seems like we have tons of photos of him like this.

I cannot wait to watch the biggest loser contestants run a marathon and cry my eyes out.

but I won't be watching it until tomorrow on hulu so don't even tell me about it because tuesdays are for yoga and wednesdays are for watching the biggest loser on hulu.

yoga>tv shows

hulu>regular television

thanksgiving?

2011-11-24T08:39:00.001-07:00

Lately there is this Campbell's soup commercial advertising using their soups for your green bean casserole and the commercial is filled with adorable kitchen timers and the thing is I must have one. It's really been getting me into this holiday spirit of cooking and being all domestic and using adorable timers, only I don't have one.

But this year all of this Thanksgiving feasting may just be wasted on me, because today, I might be sick.

The thing about being sick on Thanksgiving is that it sort of ruins things. I have been coming down with a bug since Monday that makes my back tired and my stomach gurgly (and no I am not pregnant so I don't even ask, and especially don't ask if you say prego because I did not turn into spaghetti sauce).

The thing about Thanksgiving is that you are supposed to be grateful for everything in your life and eat too much food and play board games and get ready for black friday shopping. But this morning I am sitting here with the Macy's parade on the tv, only I never really liked watching it anyway, and I am trying to summon the courage to eat a bowl of oatmeal.

That is really quite pathetic. I take it as a bad sign that I am not even hungry because usually by 6 AM I am awoken by the rumbling of my own stomach screaming for food. Once I eat breakfast that is really the turning point when I will know if I will be going to dinner or not. If the oatmeal makes me sick then dinner is out, if not dinner is in. I think you can see why this is so frightening. Also, being a foodie, Thanksgiving is probably in my top two holidays, with Christmas obviously being in the number one position.

What I really want to do is go running, preferably for a good 7-10 miles, only they'll be nice and slow because lately I am not so fast. Afterward I'd take a shower and get myself a diet dr pepper. If I really am still sick none of this can happen, except for maybe the shower, but without running it's not even really necessary.

I even thought about going out for black friday this year. I really want a sewing machine, only I haven't done enough research about what I want or what a proper price should be so I don't think this would happen sick or not.

So good luck to me on eating my oatmeal and good luck to you on your Thanksgiving feast. And good luck to everyone on finding an adorable kitchen timer.

"I could make that"

2011-11-19T12:07:00.001-07:00

One of my biggest pet peeves when I was a kid was how my mom would often say, "I could make that."

Example: Me: Look at that cool shirt/blanket/furniture/anything.
My mom: I could make that.

This drove me batty. If we're being honest she rarely ever made it, but the thing is, it stuck in my head. She was right, oft times things that you could end up spending a lot of money on are things you could make yourself. Sometimes I hear myself not really saying it, but thinking it. Some day we all turn into our mothers.

So here's some stuff I made lately. Forgive the horrible pictures, my camera apparently has forgotten how to focus photos. If I take 5 pictures of the same thing, one might be in focus. So just saying sorry in advance. Time for a new camera, since mine apparently is going through alzheimer's.

These are some jeans I never wear because they are "too flared." I am not a skinny jeans only girl, but if the flare of the leg touches while I walk it bugs me. I am not trying to make a tutorial on how to do this and I cannot find the one I used, but here's another.

Basically I put them on inside out, pinned them the way I wanted them to fit, took them off, drew a line with a sharpie of where my new seam would go and sewed along the line.

PS: I do not have a fan and a hammer in the floor in my bedroom this is one of our spare rooms which I have taken over as a sort of craft room.

Here's the final product:

Hey, look that one was actually in focus.

I also got this sign at the DI for $1.50

Sorry if you are a fan of the original, but I painted the red edges black,
took off the decal and slapped a new one on.

PS: I got this vinyl statement at Wall Written.

My friend's sister-in-law owns the company and they had an amazing clearance sale the other day.

Do you ever catch yourself doing something (mimicking a parent) that you swore you would never do?

greatest thrift store find EVER

2011-11-18T19:05:00.001-07:00

Christmas came early. I just found something at Savers for $9.95 that I was pricing on Ebay for anywhere from $30-125! Before I show this amazing item I have some others to share. Keep in mind (if you've never been thrifting before) that the items I am showing you I collected over multiples trips to the DI/Savers. Before we begin I wanted to share my rules for thrifting.

1. If you don't find at least one thing, you are either not being creative enough, are not in the right mood, or you are going too often.
2. If you are buying more than 5 items you are probably just buying crap.
3. If (I like it and) it's 5 bucks or less it's mine. If it's $10 or less it's probably mine.
4. Never, never, never go on Saturday.
5. If you want it and it's relatively cheap you should buy it because if you don't buy it someone else will. If you come back tomorrow it will be gone.

Here are some great finds; some of the prices I don't remember so I'll be guessing.

bread box $3.00

Owl $0.75-1.50 Lamp $4.00 Lamp Shade $3.00 {the lamp was originally gold and cream sort of striped; I spraypainted it with ORB)


$1.50 for the vase/planter/whatever $0.50 for that awesome Native American bust

And last the best of all the game....

My amazing ceramic Christmas tree! I was in love with one my grandma had when I was a little girl. Just look them up on Ebay and you can see how pricey they can be.

before & after

2011-11-11T16:45:00.001-07:00

I painted my bedroom furniture, bought a new comforter set and a new hamper, and if ya ask me it looks pretty darn good. It did not turn out according to the plan/the way I picture it in my mind, but does anything ever?

dresser: Before

dresser: after & new hamper

$5.00 Mirror that inspired me. I guess I forgot to take a before of my nightstand but you can see it in the background (sorta).

Nightstand: after

$10 Table

Bed: Before

Bed: After

After all was said and done it didn't turn out how I thought it would, but I still like it.

My tips for painting furniture are as follows:

1. Do not skip steps! Steps should go: 1. Prep/Sand 2. Primer 3. Paint
2. Using a glaze or stain does NOT work out on furniture that is not made of real wood.
3. Yes, there is such a thing as awesome primer to help you prep laminate furniture and/or prep furniture without sanding, but it is CRAZY sticky and that is why it works. Here is a picture of my brush I tried to soak in hot water and vinegar to clean it. Notice how the sides of the bucket are painted. Yeahhh I painted the bucket from underwater. Be careful with that stuff.

trash to treasure

2011-11-04T08:04:00.000-06:00

I saw these great pictures on pinterest and it linked back up to a simple how to.

Unlike the other site, I did not take pictures of the project in progress, just the final project. Since I bought four frames for this I decided to do one for each season. I was being drawn again and again to autumn and winter silhouettes so I forced myself to include the summer and spring pictures. This was so easy, but I did ruin one of my DI dictionary pages trying to send it through the printer. They were very thin so I glued them down to a piece of paper to keep it from jamming the printer.

I found these little gems recently and they begged me to take them home.

Mrs. Potts $1.00

I actually made this cake plate/platter with a candlestick and a plate and some E6000, but watch out that stuff is toxic! Yikes! The topper/cover was $3.00.

conversations

2011-10-29T14:42:00.000-06:00

Me: Look at this awesome vase I got at the DI for 75 cents!
Lee: I think my mom just donated that.
Me: ... :(

Arby's Employee: Medium or Large?
Me: Don't you have small?

During my half marathon today...
My fingers: It's too cold.
My calves: Please, stop running downhill.
My right hip: Please, just give up.
Me: I wish I could, but it's really not feasible. I would just be colder and stranded.

In my opinion running long distances is largely mental. Today I had such a hard time at my race. I just had negative space in my head and it wasn't good. I learned a lot from today though, and just like every other day I'm still grateful to be able to run. Even on bad days it makes me feel good about myself, accomplished, and alive.

trapped

2011-10-26T22:34:00.000-06:00

this is me..

trapped on the couch by 50 lbs of dog

soon to be posting oodles of DIY/pinterest projects

ps: I will tell the truth about how hard they were/are

all those DIYers are cheerily kidding themselves

this crap is tough.

now I know why people go to RC Willey and buy new furniture

sanding,

priming,

painting,

getting gunk all over the garage,

and yourself

etc.

when I grow up...

2011-10-23T11:43:00.003-06:00

Despite grading papers, unrealistic expectations the world has for teachers, and low pay considering the job requires a degree, I love my job!

Who wouldn't love working with hilarious kids who (mostly) think you are a genius/hero, being the boss of what you do every day (as long you teach the required curriculum, you can do it in your own way/in your own style), 12 weeks off, and... I could go on for a long time about the perks of my job.

But I am writing to tell you about the things I sometimes imagine are jobs that I would love to do.
You know what I mean, the things you love to do and you think to yourself, "I love this so much, if I could just get someone to pay me to do this, I could die happy."

Without further ado, these are the jobs I fantasize about:

1. Book Editor: Hello, reading all day.

2. Puppy Breeder: Puppies, need I say more?

3.Olympic/Pro Athlete: I heart working out and I don't care who knows it. Every kid wishes they could've been a pro athlete. I just never got around to wishing it until now.

4. Independently Wealthy/Trust Fund/Inherit Money from a distant relative: Umm... this was the only thing I could think of that meant I didn't work, but instead I got to shop all day! LOL Maybe I could be a personal shopper?

5. Chef: I love cooking, but I would get so fat if I was a chef. My world already revolves around food enough as it is.

6. Personal Trainer: It would be like every day of my life I was living instead of watching the Biggest Loser. The difference would be that I would be the one screaming at the people to "dig" or try harder or whatever... hmm maybe I only like watching that show and crying when they lose the weight. Yelling = not my favorite thing and we all know Jillian (screamer) was a lot more effective than Anna (not a screamer) so maybe I wouldn't be that great.

Don't you love Hannah?
What is a job you think would love to do?
Did you know I almost became an accountant? I really like math.

getting rid of the tacky

2011-10-22T07:56:00.003-06:00

A while ago I bought some ugly floral pictures at the dollar store. I kind of liked the brown one, I didn't like the yellow one, but I bought them anyway. I hung them up and I knew I wanted to change them somehow. I originally wanted to try to give the yellow one a brown tint, but then I had a better idea. I didn't know how to do it and I still wasn't sure I even liked the brown one.

Here is an awesome before picture of the bathroom, also note it is a picture I found on my camera of Lee taking his own before and after pictures of his beard. Ha! He may or may not be mad when he sees it here.

I took the pictures down...

I sanded the pictures off, which turned out to be decals/stickers. When I realized they were stickers I used goo gone to get the rest of it off. That stuff is amazing. Add a little paint, add a little painter's tape, and this is what you get.

Much better!

I solemnly swear...

2011-10-13T21:44:00.001-06:00

via most likely from here though

I solemnly swear....

that I am up to no good
that I don't hate people, but I love sitting in my house by myself
that I will update my my blog twice a week when I am off track
that mormons are Christians
that oreos are good for you (good for your mental health)
that running is the best way to get in a great mood
that listening to U2 during spin class is dreadful
that November 1 is the appointed time to begin listening to Christmas music
that sock bun curls can change your life; hello awesome hair, goodbye curling iron
that there is no such thing as too much broccoli ... or oatmeal

instead of blogging

2011-10-04T19:21:00.000-06:00

Lately I have had no motivation to blog! Seriously, it's just been like, hmm... well, I think I'll read other peoples' blogs, scroll down over and over on pinterest, and hate the new facebook.

Here are some of the things I've been doing lately instead of blogging:

Trying to kiss my dog
Painting my nails gray or are they grey?
Wasting tons of time on pinterest! Agghhh
Getting ready for parent conferences {next week} EEK!
Making a playlist of songs from musicals, for absolutely no reason
Watching LDS general conference
Eating my weight in broccoli
Not registering for a race I wanted to do this Saturday and now I won't be racing it thanks to my wicked procrastination skills

Hope your Tuesday is rockin'

alphabet

2011-09-16T18:21:00.000-06:00

Last night, looking through blogs of note I got an idea to pep up this blog of mine.

A. Age: 24
B. Bed size: full = me+lee+sometimes biff = full
C. Chore that you hate: laundry, dishes, sweeping, toliets... Oh wait, I think I was only supposed to pick one.
D. Dogs: Mister Biff
E. Essential start to your day: Oatmeal, wheat toast, and 1% milk
F. Favorite color: to wear: brown
G. Gold or Silver: white gold, but I like both
H. Height: 5’7"
I. Instruments you play:the tiniest violin in the world, aka, complaining! ha!
J. Job title: teacher
K. Kids: 25, but I only take care of them during the day ;)
L. Live: Utah
M. Mother’s name: Susan
N. Nicknames: Terrible T
O. Overnight hospital stays: I had pneumonia when I was 9 and had to stay in the hospital for a month.
P. Pet peeves: bad grammar, unless it's me doing it, like right now, with too many commas, I love commas.
Q. Quote from a movie: "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
R. Right or left handed: Right handed!
S. Siblings: 2 older brothers
T. Time you wake up: 5:30 AM boo...
U. Underwear: Yes, I wear it.
V. Vegetable you hate: Mushroom? It's not technically a vegetable though.
W. What makes you run late: pushing snooze
X. X-Rays you’ve had: my teeth
Y. Yummy food that you make: That's a good question for Lee.
Z. Zoo animal: Anything that's a baby animal! Eek!

First person to say what movie my movie quote is from (without google) can be my new best friend!

stolen images via pinterest

2011-09-15T21:58:00.000-06:00

source

Lately I've been too busy laying down on my couch, not working out AKA not following my training plan, feeling sorry for myself and coughing my little heart out to blog about anything of value.

Saturday I found out in the middle of a 'supposed to be 11 mile run-turned out to be more like an 8 mile run/walk/crawl' that I had come down with some kind of virus. It was a poor, pathetic story, but I'll spare you any more details.

Instead I want to keep it positive and talk about what I am grateful for today.

Tomorrow is Friday: I know, boring, but whatever. Fridays are awesome sauce because my favorite 5th grade team goes out to lunch and it's early out day for us, plus, hello! weekend.
Lee: He has been so good to me while I've been sick: buying me orange juice, warming up soup for me, vacuuming the floors, doing laundry, all that fabulous stuff. I'm a lucky gal.
Yesterday I made tater tot casserole; enough said.
Did I mention sleeping in tomorrow?
My church meeting I was supposed to go to tonight got cancelled/moved: We'll just have the meeting eventually anyway, but it's nice to be able to stay home on the couch in recovery mode.
General Conference is coming up! I am so excited for a PJ Sunday listening to the wonderful messages. I am excited to hear what will be said. I wonder if the speakers will talk as much about service as last time.
I am almost back to 100% healthy :)
Next week is the Biggest Loser and The Office Frankly, I don't watch that much TV, 2 shows a week is literally about 2 hours. I am excited to watch these, although they'll be different with a new trainer on BL and no more Michael on the office. Speaking of the BL I just saw a commercial where Bob endorsed a diet pill? What the? Aren't they supposed to be all about the common sense diet, even if they can take it to extremes, that is supposed to be their whole philosophy. Not cool Bob, not cool.

source

And if that doesn't make you smile, check your pulse, because you must be dead.

webified

2011-09-11T08:19:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine blogged her results to an online personality test; of course I wanted to do the same. This picture is supposed to represent my internet personality?

At first I was like what? Is that a pregnancy test? I guess it's just a thermometer. No idea what my personality has to do with a thermometer... or any of that stuff.

Speaking of personality tests... Have you heard of The Color Code? It's flippin' brilliant.

I am a blue-red.

That means I am a sensitive, (overly emotional) bossy, know-it all. {Poor Lee, right?} Plus I guess some good qualities too. That Taylor Hartman is a genius!

marital dispute

2011-09-06T19:42:00.003-06:00

Okay folks, tonight as I whipped up some oatmeal, whole wheat pancakes {YUM} we, meaning hubster and I, came upon a topic for the marriage ref.

Unfortunately we are not going on that show anytime soon so I must plea to any blog followers or people who happen upon this little corner of the web to answer this question...

Spatula?

Or...

Spatula?

I tried to settle the dispute through a google image search, but I was the loser of that battle.

Whatever you answer you must remember, Lee is wrong and I am right, {of course} ! We can't let him win this after he beat me in the 1 mile race, can we?

sweet september & gourds

2011-09-04T10:49:00.000-06:00

Oh, friends!
Here it is; the first week of September, time for me to put out autumn decor.

Don't you love my ceramic pumpkins?

I have a collection.

I especially liked it when my sis-in-law came over for dinner last October and called them gourds!
Isn't that delicious?

What fun would decorating your house be without a holiday movie?

Unfortunately, I don't have any Halloween movies.
I don't really like scary movies anyway so I settled on Miracle on 34th Street,
which is much more about Christmas

BUT it has a scene of Thanksgiving dinner so...
into the xbox it went.

You know what else it is time for?

I think it's time to redo my blog. I noticed that all the cool kids, ya know people with things like actual followers and the like, have much cleaner white backgrounds, none of this gaudy pink stuff.

Hmmm... what to do? Someday soon we are ready for a change.

For now, I'd rather put out my lovely wreath of leaves and pumpkins.

Yesterday I ran 10 miles

out of doors

without an ipod

and without sunscreen (bad choice)

I even have a capri pants tan/sunburn line

for some reason I ran really slow...

maybe it was the nerdy belt I bought to carry a water bottle in?

Well I am going to watch my Christmas movie, smell my pumpkin spice candles and finish cleaning out the closet that holds holiday decor.

What do you love about fall?

I love... changing leaves, the beginning of the holiday season, trick-or-treaters, candy corn (but I will buy a giant bag and only eat one, because after that it is just too much), Thanksgiving dinner, wearing jackets/sweaters, boots, socks, new seasons of TV shows (the office and the biggest loser coming soon!) pumpkins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and oh... everything!

Lee would say: football.

I am going to try to be a nice wife and not complain about football watching and even try to watch some, ya know, "Go Cougars!" and all that, but who knows how long that will last.

Tell me, are there any fabulous movies you watch during the fall? What are they?

good news

2011-08-31T17:26:00.003-06:00

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well folks, lee made it. he finished reading HP 7; Monday night we watched HP7.1 on blu ray and we are off to see the second one tonight. I am so glad I am going to see it before it leaves the theaters, but sad that after today there will never be anything new to see or read of harry potter.

so sad

somebody needs to tell JK Rowling to get to work on something new.

I need to deliver some visiting teaching brownies, but I have a treat for you too. I'm sure it's been seen before again and again, but the first time I saw it I laughed my head off.

source

cause & effect relationships

2011-08-25T17:29:00.007-06:00

Today I came home from work to this:

Which is, grown men playing video games in my living room.

Which, naturally, lead to this:

We are in the same room...

They have no idea what I am doing...

No special effects involved, just pure talent.

Hope you're having a rockin' Thursday. I know I am!

saturday smiles in pictures

2011-08-22T21:01:00.017-06:00

I know today is Monday; but I'm thinking about Saturday b/c there's lots to love about Saturdays. Here are some things that made me smile last Saturday.

jammin' out to, "pumped up kicks"

this face

this sign, ironic

biff showing me how to do yoga

mmm... don't tell my dentist

crazy junk people give away to Savers...

and last the best of all the game:

halloween products on the shelf (@petsmart); oh fall, I love you!

on being a reader

2011-08-21T07:58:00.006-06:00

there are 3 types of books

1. books that don't speak to you at all; with this type of book you either don't get to the last page it or you read the book slowly, agonizing for the ending because for some reason you want to finish what you started.

2. then there are books that you found entertaining or interesting, and that's all there really is to say about them.

3. lastly are the type of books that, if you were a child you would stay up late with a flashlight under your blanket just to read more. this is the type of book that transforms a person into a reader because once you've had a taste of a book like that you want to read another; if you can't find another, the book will whisper your name like a siren's call begging to be read again and again

i don't know about you, but i need more of that third type of book.
i never said that they were well written, though they usually are
i only said they capture your attention, excite you, make you fall in love with their characters, teaching you about love, loss, life, adventure, far off places, risk, romance, adventure, magic, friendship, and of course lord voldemort

a great book is a great friend

and if you don't understand that, i don't really understand you.

the truth of it is, that if you don't love books, you've never found a book that speaks to you on that third level. and i hope that someday you do.

Casual Fridays

2011-08-19T17:53:00.007-06:00

Do you get to wear jeans to work on Fridays?
Who wouldn't love that?

Trying to take a picture of my jeans
Trying to do it without making it look like the focal point
is one of the body parts bikinis cover.
I'm not 100% sure I was successful.

You know who loves wearing jeans?
Michael Scott.

I tried to take a picture with one of my best friends...
but he was not interested.

Then I tried to bribe him with peanut butter treats...

Didn't really work.

It's my first Friday back to school in this new year. It's been a long week! It's hard getting to know new students and getting them used to your personality/rules/schedule. I feel like I need to be extra strict this year because I keep overhearing students say, "That's Mrs. terrible t, she's nice."

I'll show you little 5th graders
I am here to teach you.
Not to be nice.
:P
Watch out.

In case you are wondering I still haven't seen HP 7.2.... I have been watching plenty of Jeopardy though, and guess what? I can't even answer the questions on Teen Jeopardy!

Lee finally started reading The Deathly Hallows. Good thing his computer is broken and football season hasn't started yet. Maybe he will actually finish before it leaves the theater. Pray for me.

fish for sale; price: free

2011-08-09T19:11:00.005-06:00

For your entertainment I am copying my friend, Meche Leche, and making a list of things you *might* not know about me.

It is embarrassing how dirty that bowl is.
(I just fed him FYI, not totally neglected today).

I have had three toe nails blacken and fall off! Eww
If it weren't for Lee I would most likely become vegan, although I cannot give up dairy.
Ever since 90% of the females in my age group started having babies I find myself conversationally gravitating towards women in the 37-60 age category (at work, church, etc.) I'm sorry people, I just don't have anything to contribute to a conversation about babies. I just don't. It's a fact.
I have a seriously neglected 2 year old beta fish. Free fish up for grabs. Poor guy has no name and gets fed like once a week. My students named him, "bubbles," 2 years ago, which I hated, so I just call him fishy. When I started working an hour away from home it was time for fishy to stop living at work and start living at home. Don't worry guys, I take much better care of Biff! I promise I feed him and take him outside (to do that thing I said I would never talk about on my blog again) every day! Okay, Lee totally helps.
I thought Rise of the Planet of Apes was depressing. It seriously made me sick to my stomach; animal cruelty type stuff. I know it's only CGI, but for me it paralleled too well with things that really happen in shelters, labs, etc.
Why are 3 of these bullets about animals? WEIRD; apparently I am obsessed with animals. Watch out PETA here I come to take over. (No, I am not that extreme, but I am a little bit like a hippie, I'm not gonna lie).
I hate spending money.
I am trying to meet a goal to read 24 books this year and I am dangerously behind.
Ways in which I am like a hippie: love for animals, I flash the peace sign every day when the workers at the gym say goodbye to me, vegan-like tendencies, long hair, I don't wash my hair often enough, I am sometimes caught wearing out of style flare/bell bottom type pants, apparently I am liberal (liberal for Utah) Lee loves to tell his family I am a democrat b/c I don't like to assign myself to a political party, and I could go on, but I won't. You are Welcome.

That was ruff. I did not mention eating oatmeal or running. I think my brain just expanded a tiny bit with the work. Good thing too, as I am 24 years old and my brain will be fully developed in less than 12 months when I turn 25. Lee tells me it is all downhill from there. I sure hope he is wrong. Only time will tell.

a letter to summer

2011-08-05T17:36:00.004-06:00

Dear Summer,

The thing I really love about you is your long days and short nights. I love to see the sunrise early and set late; that is probably my favorite thing you bring. I also love that you let me wear flips flops every day, not only because I don't have to go to work for six weeks, but because my toes won't get cold and you remind me to keep them painted pink as a girl's toes always should be (even when they turn black from wearing running shoes too small, but I haven't done that for a long time and this isn't about running).

Another thing you bring with you is all the greenery outside including that wonderful smelling russian olive tree and beautiful gardens with delicious fruits and vegetables. Oh, how I love the fruits and vegetables. But you know who else brings those yummy, crunchy, juicy treats? Your sister Autumn, and Summer I cannot lie she is the one I really wish for.

It's been real Summer. And though, you have much to offer {and will surely stay for quite a few weeks yet} I find myself dreaming of soft breezes, warm jackets, red, orange, and brown leaves... Isn't Autumn romantic? It makes me think of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan emailing back and forth about a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils and saying it would be a shame to miss New York in the fall (or do they say it's a shame to miss it in the spring?) Who knows? I hate to wish away time and I do love these late sunsets, but I cannot deny I love the fall.

And if you enjoy dogs or curling up in a warm blanket you'll enjoy this video.

Peace Out- Terrible T

ramble ramble ramble

2011-08-03T21:43:00.006-06:00

here's the thing; I really hate it when people start off a blog post by saying, "I have been so bad at blogging lately." So this is me NOT saying that. Although the thing is it's not like I've been bad at blogging, I'm always bad at blogging. Instead of being bad at blogging I've just not been blogging. Let's count how many times I just used the word blog/blogging: 8

PS I also hate when people use the word blog in their blog. It seems I hate my own blog today. (Now we are up to 11 uses of the b word and it's getting out of control.) Just one more though, in an effort to scrounge up some ideas I google imaged the word, "blogging," and here are some of the more entertaining results. Please enjoy.

source

okay no one really thinks it's time for me to update my blog, even my computer could care less I still use it plenty to read others' blogs and play tetris, jeopardy, and wheel of fortune on facebook

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shakespeare, you are so right!

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Umm yeah, let's be honest this is the epitome of me writing about nothing.

Lately I've been: running, taking naps, watching golden girls, lots of church stuff, yoga, running, cheering for Lee when he fixed our TV, playing board games, feeling bad for Ben on the Bachelolerette, being embarrassed I even watched that show, running, did I say taking naps?

Am I excited to start school in less than two weeks? You bet I am. and You bet I am not. so bittersweet.

Right now I am reading "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton, it was hard to get into at first, but I am enjoying it.

What are you reading? / Are you on goodreads?

frowny

2011-07-23T20:09:00.002-06:00

Watching/reading the news really makes me sad sometimes...
After I was reading some details about that horrible massacre in Norway
I read another article on CNN
about how 1,200 infants were killed last year in Pakistan for being born
out of wedlock; 90% of them were baby girls who are considered a burden.

It really makes me grateful for everything I have.

terrible t tues "to do"

2011-07-19T18:28:00.005-06:00

Wow! I did a number reeling you in there with that alliteration didn't I?
totally

why is this picture here? i have no answer.
to prove my hair isn't that gross when i don't wash it?

terrible t tues "to do"

~~stay in pj's until 6:00 PM~~
~~make lee play 4 games of carcasonne before he goes to work~~
get the master to call in sick to work so we can hang out
~~watch the bachelorette on hulu~~
~~clean my car for 2 HOURS~~ (just the interior)
wash my car for the first time since I bought it a year ago
give Biff a Bathe
~~take a shower and put on mascara to go to yoga class~~
(srsly, I did this; don't want to stink everyone out before class even starts)
~~continue my 7 day streak of not washing my hair~~
~~add "give in to me" (from country strong) to an online playlist~~
listen to it approximately 148 times
find someone to go with me to harry potter
~~eat my weight in vegetables~~
~~admire my sparkly pink toe nails~~
go to the bank

I think there might be a correlation between me not washing my hair and not having friends to see HP with.. what do you think?

umm... yeah, pretty much in love with this song

the great outdoors

2011-07-13T16:39:00.010-06:00

*A good trick for people who look stupid in photos like Lee and I often do, wear sunglasses then no one sees if your eyes look weird.

Every year the master and I take turns planning our anniversary celebration.
This year was my turn.

I took Lee to Park City where we went hiking at the Canyons resort.

We found a weird cabin full of empty beer cans.

Then Lee asked me to take pictures of him to document this special day.
hmmm... not really

We had to ride a gondola to get to our hiking point.

Then we took stupid pictures at the Olympic Park after we rode the zipline and the alpine slide.

No making fun of this butt shot.

Or my shorts; if I intend to sweat like a cup of liquid during any given activity I deem it appropriate for myself to wear work out clothes.

Lee begged me to take a picture of him in front of the cabin.
Not really.

This photo should probably be featured in an art exhibit somewhere.
I will call it:
girl in forest

Other highlights of the trip included:

Eating delicious steaks, with a side of broccoli covered in the greatest cheese sauce known to man (should have taken a picture of that!)
Having a contest in our FREEZING hotel pool to see who could tread water longer
(you know, like in the movie the guardian)
but we decided to have a tie after about 5 minutes instead of wearing ourselves out to the point of fainting since we are too competitive.
Asking a bunch of different locals where to find a redbox three different times before they actually got it right.
Watching "Unstoppable" and then looking up the true story it was based on online and finding out that basically pretty much the only thing that was true is that there was a unmanned train, everything else was totally exaggerated.

All in all it was a great time and I hope I get to hang out with Lee for at least 96 more years.

Running like Elvis

2011-07-10T10:48:00.009-06:00

Yesterday I ran the Hobbler Half Marathon and I totally won!
Um, not really, if you believed me then, wow, you are kind of gullible.

I should have probably gotten some kind of award for pulling an, "Elvis" face for this picture my dad took.

What's that you say, you can't see the elvis face? Okay, here it is closer up.

I can't wait 'til the professional race photos get posted online so I can make you guys look at more. Race photos are awesome because people generally look like death in them. At least I looked like Elvis instead of death. Trust me guys, I felt like death! Sometimes I wonder what would be worse giving birth or running a full on marathon? Someone tell me. I think I want to do whichever is worse first, so that the other will seem like a cake walk. Sound logic right?

Totally.

Special for you, I made this really awesome photo strip, sort of like a comic strip. It basically tells a story; no words necessary.

Okay, maybe some words are necessary: this is just me, passing two grown men at the finish line.
It's cool.
They never saw me coming.
BAM!
Just kidding, if this was last year, this picture would be of me starting to sprint to the end and running out of gas and having to jog really slow. True story. Super embarrassing. This time I made sure to save some energy to look awesome at the end.

I finished in 1:52:58 for anyone who cares about that stuff.
My goal was to finish in under 2 hours, but I also had a secret goal to finish in under 1:50, but last time I was 2:15 so I am stoked.

I could tell you guys a bunch of fun stories about the race, but it's weird how I don't think anyone cares! So I will spare you the details. More to come soon about adventures where Lee and I actually got off our couch and went somewhere!

4th day in July

2011-07-04T13:11:00.005-06:00

How are you celebrating today?

Today I am celebrating my freedom by:
running up a giant hill at 8:00 in the morning
and
eating an entire container of guacamole on my own

later today we'll do the traditional family BBQ and fireworks

Thanks for writing the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson!

Here's a wicked awesome song I use to teach eleven year olds about the Revolutionary War; they love singing it, especially the part where King George III says, "I don't care."

enjoy:

and

Thanks to all the people who are now serving or have ever served in the military to protect our freedom to do whatever random crap we want because this is America!

Now go do some random crap, because you can...
like having a party to watch Mel Gibson in the Patriot because what would be more appropriate today?

starting the morning off right

2011-07-03T09:42:00.005-06:00

if you wake up at 6:30 AM
eat cereal
watch TV
and eat cafe rio leftovers at 9:30 in the morning
there is just no telling what the day will bring

i do know that yesterday, my first day of vacation, I called Lee at work 3 x from boredom
i guess i need some friends

In case you are worried about the state of my religious affairs and the fact that I am not fasting (because my religion asks its members to fast once a month); I decided not to fast since my half marathon is on Saturday. Last time I fasted it was the day after I ran ten miles and oddly enough, not giving your body nutrients when it is trying to heal itself doesn't work out so great; that is the same week I hurt my IT band... coincidence? I do not know.

4 Years

2011-06-29T21:05:00.005-06:00

4 years ago today...
I was here...

Dear Lee,

We made it through 4 years of not driving each other crazy; wait, what? That happens every day... Nevermind.

Thanks for...

not thinking I am annoying
not getting grossed out about how I can often out eat you
or by how I am so sweatastic at the gym
coming to yoga and spinning class that one time
letting me get a dog
taking Biff out pretty much all the time
giving me awesome lessons every day
(aka lessons on how I can try to be as awesome as Lee)
beating me at every game and competition on the planet so as not to bloat my ego :(
going running with me those 2 times even though you didn't really like it
never saying anything bad about my cooking
giving me a hug when I get home from work, most of the time
everything, every day, forever

Things I have learned from/about marriage:

Even when you love someone, and even when they are thebomb.com, marriage is work and that is okay
Getting married is a big step of faith and trust and I don't know how I got so lucky. I really don't think I knew what I was doing when I picked Lee or that I was any better at making a decision than other people, or that I had a divine revelation that we were meant to be. It just kind of happened and I am so grateful.

I must have tricked Lee into marrying me somehow 'cuz I really am just a big weirdo.

Here's to getting old and wrinkly with my best friend.

is it summer?

2011-06-28T20:48:00.003-06:00

How do you know when it is summer?

I know it is summer when...

I wear my hair up, which I hate doing.

and when...

It is still light outside at 8:53 PM
Everyone else is out of school and yet I am not.
Otter pops taste really good.
Other people are tan, I am not.
During a 5 PM run I: stand in someone's sprinklers, almost die of dehydration, and get really excited about the water fountain in the public library.

that time I almost died OR that time I watched too many episodes of unsolved mysteries as a child?

2011-06-24T20:22:00.008-06:00

the time I nearly died...

OR

the time my imagination ran wild...

you decide...

PS: look at that photo again and smile about Biff's paw being in it.
Did you do that?
Alright, I guess I can tell you the story now.

but FIRST push play on this video and listen to the music so you will be sufficiently ready to be creeped out.

Our story begins with me deciding to go running at the high school track by myself. I have done this quite a few times now and have never worried for my own safety.

I ran a mile as two gals ran up and down the bleachers.
I ran another mile barefooted on the grass and the two girls leave.
I went to put my shoes back on for the next 2-3 miles on the track and into our story enters a shady figure.

An older (50-60 years old) gentleman walks toward the track wearing jeans and and buttoned up long sleeved denim shirt. From a distance he looked like he could have been a custodian, so at first his presence seemed a little odd, but not too out of the ordinary.

As he approaches the track the weirdness begins and he unbuttons his long sleeved shirt to reveal his bare chest.

The man then begins to walk laps around the track holding his shirt in his hand.

At this moment I am thinking: a little strange, but whatever. He wants some exercise, he wants some sun.

As I (jogging) pass him, I notice he has something in his hand, but can't see what.
On my second and third lap since he arrived I can see that it looks like he is tossing the thing around in his hands, switching hands and doing bicep curls.

On my fourth lap I see that thing in his hand is a rock with about a five inch diameter.
With each lap I jog he seems creepier, until I have imagined him as a Ted Bundy like attacker and when I realize he is holding a giant rock I imagine he will soon be using it to bash me on the head.

This is where I book it to the car, decide it is time to go, and leave my workout early driving all the way to the gym to finish.

So here is where you decide. I cannot trust myself because I truly did watch too many episodes of unsolved mysteries as a child.

Did I almost die?

Or is it time for me to be diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic?

Now that my friends is an unsolved mystery...

For no reason at all please enjoy a picture of Biff's blue tongue,
because your dog's tongue is not blue.

me + sepia = less pale

2011-06-19T10:44:00.006-06:00

I know that all of my 6 blog followers woke up this morning thinking, "I hope Tiffany takes another picture of herself sitting on the couch, using a crummy laptop camera, wearing the grey hoodie she never takes off."

Well guess what guys? Your dreams just came true. I made these photos really special too by wearing no make up and using the sepia option so your eyes won't be blinded by my vampire like skin.

Lately I have been actually getting some time in the sun running outdoors and being an awesome referee/umpire during a sweet 5th grade kickball tournament, but I can't stay out in the sun too long or someone will notice that my skin is sparkling... Lee is really worried about me no longer being albino and told me to wear sunscreen. I think he is really paranoid about me getting cancer and stuff, it's okay because I force him to eat fruits and veggies and do cardio once a week. We have each other's back like that so we can live to be 100.

Anyway...

Did you guys know I got totally hooked up this year in the form of amazon.com gift cards? Between my parents, Lee's bros and sisters, and my students I got $100 towards awesome stuff.

One thing I bought was a 2 year subscription to runner's world. I am pretty excited about it.
Thanks family (and students) (not that any of them read this)
You guys really know what I love.

Which is picking out my own gifts! HAHA totally kidding, and yet, not.

PS: I got this awesome grey hoodie with birthday monies from Lee's grandma.

His family totally loves me. (and I love them back)

You know this hoodie is awesome cuz when I wore it Friday to Walgreens the guy there hit on me (kinda) by complimenting how awesome it is while I was getting some lady pills.

I am only a little embarassed abut how many times I just said awesome in this post.
I should really work on expanding my vocabulary.

In other news, Happy Father's Day!

I am so lucky to have a cool poppa who is a great listener and always tries to help me fix things like my computer or car even if he doesn't really know how.

My father-in-law is also really awesome sauce. He is fun to tease about dorky things that happen for example this one time he got bugged at a restaurant that was giving everyone free bread except us and he said to the waiter, "Are we gonna get some bread or what?" I think he would be embarrassed if he knew I wrote that, but I'm pretty sure he's never heard of my blog, so it's all good.

Have a great Father's Day and don't be too sad if your father has left this Earth. I'm sure he's looking down on you with love. Or at least that's what I believe about it.

PS (again) I am really excited that I am running a 10K Saturday with my sis-in-law because I am usually a loser who only runs alone. It is going to be off the hook. I hope to finish in under an hour and take some photos for once since I won't be some weird loner there.

walking like a grandma

2011-06-18T21:54:00.003-06:00

I have come to the conclusion that people are just not interested in me talking about running all the time; something about how I never get any comments when I talk about running.

I keep trying to think about something else to post about, but lately it all comes back to running: my new watch I bought, magazines and books I have been reading, a blog I am flappin' obsessed with (thanks Jessica Z.), my recent mysterious discomforts during running and where the carp is it coming from? new shoes, etc. etc.

So I am racking my brain trying to think about something interesting and exciting to do/say/take photos of so here are some non-running highlights of my life lately.

1. Two weeks left of teaching some awesome 11 year olds and then they are going to move on to a new teacher who will take over in molding their little minds.
2. In 2 weeks I have 6 weeks off of work! (I know #1 and #2 are the same, but I am trying here)
3. Thursday night Lee talked me into a day of rest from working out so we could go to the movies [and I really needed it because Lee forced me to do a crazy leg workout that left me walking like an old lady for four days} we saw Super 8. It rocked my socks and so did that run-on sentence you just read. Pretend I'm not a teacher and stuff.
4. Today I tried to cook an artichoke and it was disgusting. I have 3 more artichokes in my fridge and don't know how to eat them. Advice/recipes please, in the comment area.
5. Lee is playing facebook tetris right now and I am pretty sure I need to end this post so I can go challenge him.

my reason for living

2011-06-12T20:39:00.007-06:00

one of my reasons for living is..

making

homemade brownies

but don't forget about eating them

and licking the cooking utensils

don't worry, I saved one for the master

What are your reasons for living?

some of mine are...
brownies
oreos
cafe rio salad
eating in general
running

and of course real/meaningful things like..
learning and living the gospel
relationships with people and family
but, especially Lee

learning

2011-06-11T21:47:00.005-06:00

I have been learning a few life lessons lately; who are we kidding? I learn them every day, but here are some nuggets of brilliancy for you.

*don't assign things to your students that you don't want to grade
*new shoes did not cure my mysterious "pain"
*something nerdy in me is happy to watch Tron Legacy over and over in the cardio cinema
*there is such a thing as eating too many gummy bears
*hearing kesha on the radio makes me wish I was in spin class
*I can run faster and harder than I thought; even if I feel like I can't go on, I can. And so can you.
*raspberry hammer gel tastes just like raspberry jam, just like that hippy/biker salesman promised it would
*no one in their right mind needs 5 onions; sorry bountiful baskets this is one week when I say
boo

shoes, thighs and a crisis

2011-06-07T18:30:00.006-06:00

here in the house of terrible t we are the in the midst of a

potential

crisis

Long story short: about a week and a half ago I began having a dull pain/minor discomfort in my left thigh during running and only during running. I know, it was seriously a crisis.

Pain began the day of the race: me VS lee
PS: I do not believe the race caused it, but rather what I did the Fri & Sat prior to.
I rested for like 2 days,
then tried to run and still felt it.
I ran the next day and still felt it.
I cried to Lee over my own pathetic-ness and put ice on it.
Clarification: Not crying from physical pain, crying from dissappointment.
The next two days I rested.
{Saturday & Sunday}

About half way through Saturday I came to the realization that I had run somewhere in the vicinity of 800 miles on these:

Crisis potentially averted.

I have bought new shoes, but I bought them in a rush and they were cheap.
I will buy real shoes Saturday or next week.
Testing my cheapies out to see if it is really me hurting or my shoes hurting me.

Yesterday was so so.
Today will be a yoga day.

Wish me luck tomorrow.
I will be really disappointed if I have to miss out on the half marathon I have been training for!

In the meantime I am giving these guys a hug goodbye, and surprisingly they did not stink, even that close to my face.

PS: I am aware you are supposed to replace your shoes every 400 or so miles, but I pretty much just run on them until I fool myself into thinking I am injured. This happened to me last time too.

I need to be better at this stuff.

family couch evening

2011-06-06T20:32:00.006-06:00

doggies on the couch

2011-06-05T09:58:00.003-06:00

How many dogs could I fit on this couch with me?

At least two

Currently dogsitting;
currently two dogs are sitting on me.

harry potter, loser

2011-05-31T20:48:00.009-06:00

Did I mention the master was reading Harry Potter just cause he loves me so dern much? Well he is, and he is reading it right this minute.

You better believe Lee has no idea I took these pictures with my laptop. Sneaky, sneaky.

I need a new book to read...
or something

Did you know I have been wearing a gray jacket in my last 3 posts? Don't worry, today it is a different gray jacket.

I bet you are waiting to see if I tell you who won the race, right?

well....

I did not win!
Aren't I supposed to be the runner?

Lee: 1 Mile: 7 Minutes 44 Seconds
Terrible T: 1 Mile: 7 Minutes 55 Seconds

There will be a rematch

Aren't you guys glad that I am now too lazy to get out my camera and instead use the low quality one in the laptop?

Kinda grainy, but makes for some awesome poses.

Is there anyone in your life who mercilessly beats you at everything?

It's cool Lee, I am learning to accept defeat.

self esteem & jamba

2011-05-30T12:34:00.011-06:00

Sometimes I can feel kind of lost as far as fashion is concerned. Some of my clothes {like pants that flare a little too much for boot cut} are making me feel old/out of style, but I am not sure how much I love the skinny jean thing. Some days I feel good in them, other days it's more like, "whoa, skinny jeans are for skinny people so don't go there girl."

I usually have awesome self esteem {definitely hasn't always been the case} but whenever I go shopping for clothes that kinda goes out the window. I won't go into all the details because I'm sure most of the women of the world have been there, but let's just say I wasn't feeling that great about myself after some shopping.

I was really tempted to go get a giant DDP and a cake doughnut with rainbow sprinkles to make myself feel better/worse? Who knows how it would have turned out. Instead, I decided to try to be better to my body and go to Jamba Juice because I had a gift card from one of my students from Christmas.

Apparently those teen workers at Jamba were tuned in with my soul {and don't worry no one is paying me to say this to my 6 followers} because they decided to give me a free bowl of oatmeal. I guess they couldn't stand to see a pathetic expression on such a beautiful girl. Ha, no really they were about to throw it all away, but that just doesn't sound as awesome. So basically, me and my $5 gift card paid 17 cents for a 20 oz. jamba juice and a side of oatmeal.

and if you know me, you know I love oatmeal,

I have been known to eat 3 bowls in one day.
It was delish and I give it a terrible t recommendation.
I got blueberries & blackberries in it; I think next time: bananas

Right now, Biff is kind of attacking me/pawing me to death trying to get me to take him on a walk so just one more thing.

Don't forget to root for me today in my 1 mile race against Lee.

----------------------------------------

Who do you think will win? And what will the winner's time be?

What boosts your self esteem?

For me, it's duh, running and surprisingly I feel way hotter in my work out clothes than a real outfit.

Don't you just love oatmeal?

I literally eat it everyday; except yesterday when I was diligently fasting only to find out when I got to church it wasn't fast Sunday!

fuel

2011-05-28T17:50:00.006-06:00

In the world of terrible t salads are pretty much good for everything:
good as a side, good as an entire meal, good at cafe rio, good on tuesday, good on wednesday, you get it; they are always good.

But you know what salad is not that good for? Fueling my body to run 10 miles.

Today I reached a new low in the tired department after my run. I have been known to lay on the bed while I brush my teeth and call it the greatest invention I ever had; but never before today have I sat down on the bathroom floor to blow dry my hair because I just was too worn out and hungry to stand.

I downloaded a kindle book about running so I can pretend I know stuff about it. Pretty sure I need to skip right to the nutrition chapter and learn to give my body some protein.

PS: You can't see it, but I put some almonds in that salad so there is a little...

soldiering on

2011-05-27T17:47:00.012-06:00

Some of you or your children finished out the school year this week.

In case you're wondering...

I'm still here.

Until July, 1.

Grading these

and recording these

and shamefully drinking one of these

Don't tell my dentist!

gummy bears & a challenge

2011-05-24T20:57:00.005-06:00

Not sure if you guys got the memo on Saturday, but this girl loves gummy bears these days. I hope you enjoy my awesomely stupid editing skills assisted by photobooth.

You should be jealous of this handful of gummies; cuz it's no lie that I ate em' all and I enjoyed every second of it.

Also, what do gummy bears have to do with anything? They don't have anything to do with anything. I just feel like I can't post without a picture. That's what you clicked on my blog for right; because you love to look at my gorgeous face and smokin' bod? Errr...? Yeah. Nevermind.

Today at the gym while pumping some mad iron with Lee a challenge was issued. Tuesday is my day to bench press with the master; it is a tradition {on Tuesdays} We basically never miss it unless there is some kind of natural disaster.

Tangent: Let's not lie, nothing short of wild horses or parent conferences keeps me from going to the gym, b/c frankly I do not know how you people live without the endorphins. It is truly a drug.

Back to the story: Between lifting weights and feeling a little bad about missing the Biggest Loser, but knowing I will always be able to watch it on hulu, witty banter often occurs (witty banter: see making fun of other people in an effort to entertain Lee or make him laugh which never works aka my greatest sin). Wittiness provided by me, which the master does not think is funny at all. Our senses of humor are often tuned to different frequencies, but we try. So.. witty banter.. la la la:

"Don't look now, but that girl needs a 'tan'nervention; seriously looks painful."
"That guy in the grey shirt has the biggest tacos I've ever seen!"
Then it happens and I say, "Too bad there is no one here for me to compete with today."

Tangent: Insert explanation on how I compete with everyone all the time: on the treadmill, during yoga (which by nature is supposed to be calming, peaceful, and accepting of all ---I try not to do this but, sometimes it happens ...forgive me.) and lastly, against high school boys or old men who bench press the same weight as me! Muhahaha

So again I had said, "Too bad there is no one here for me to compete with today." {meaning teenage boys or old men}
Then I say, "We {meaning Lee and I} should have a one mile treadmill race!"

The date is set, Monday, May 30, 2011. {They even gave me work off for this event; thank me for your day off Monday and don't listen to any rigmarole about Memorial Day}

Not sure if I can blog about the results, too ashamed if I lose and too much love for Lee if I win. There it is blog world, the challenge, you may or may not hear the results.

Wish me luck, or wish him luck, I guess you can be on his side...

schmaturday agenda

2011-05-21T09:55:00.005-06:00

wear the master's hoodie to walmart and notice how very, very gross it is when girls rat their hair. check.
take awesome photo of my huge chompers. check.
put groceries away, clean out pantry, eat gummy bears and jam to bieber. check.
realize you must've been stocking for the apocalypse {which is supposedly today} when you bought 4 boxes of instant oatmeal. check.
clean the bathroom? maybe
give biff a bath? maybe
run 9 miles? definitely
make spaghetti for dinner? definitely
walk Biff? most likely
read Anne of Green Gables and fall asleep 5 times? yeah baby
talk Lee into some date-like excursion? time will only tell

teacher appre-shoe-ation

2011-05-20T17:37:00.020-06:00

So glad I could relearn to spell appreciation using one fifth grader's pronunciation of the word.

This week we had teacher appreciation week and I can't believe how great all the kids and parents were to me. I feel like I need to send out a a bunch of thank you cards; but that'd be like sending thank you cards for thank you cards and what is the etiquette on that? One mom made this basket for me, can you imagine gluing all those crayons on? You rock moms.

I have twix bars to the moon; I guess next time I do that PTA survey I'll write more than one candy bar as my favorite LOL They also made this cute book: read on to see some of the funny and cute responses. Also stay tuned and scroll down for the king of all salt and pepper shakers I got as a gifty from one kid! You're gonna love it.

I like being in Diary of a Wimpy Kid form; I look skinny.

A lot of kids wrote I would be super running woman or super math woman? But I liked this picture, probably because it accurately portrays my huge biceps/shoulders.
This girl kinda thinks she is an adult and is pleased with herself to know my first name haha PS I do not let her call me by it.

I have a dog themed classroom, maybe I'll do pictures another day, a lot of kids wrote things about me loving dogs.

Most kids wrote the best thing I taught them was math, but she was the funniest.

Other Gifts:

Biff is just checking this purse for bombs.

Have a pomegranate smelling day? Did not make sense to me when I first read it; but it came with scented lotion... guess what flavor?

This kid was so proud to give me this gift!

a post for the sake of a post

2011-05-18T21:45:00.003-06:00

as of late, I have nothing to write; that thing between my ears is empty.
maybe not empty, but certainly not interesting.

This is what my brain looks like lately:

secretlovechild?noarnoldno vistingteachingistimeconsuming! teacherappreciationweekhappy
ihavenotcookeddinnersincesunday:( 5thgradehoedown/squaredancingwithlee=goofyandfun
readingsportscenterclosedcaptioningonthetreadmilltooccupyyourbrainisreallyboring ihatespiders weirddreamaboutmyneighborslastnight saturdaycomesoonplease ineedmoresleep
augustamainebostonmassachusettsmontpeliervermontetc

end scene

the master

2011-05-08T21:36:00.007-06:00

On Saturday, Lee Middle Name Last Name graduated with his Master's Degree. I am so stupidly proud of him that I am going to christen him with a new nickname. It is currently a tie between 'master' and 'the master'; leaning more toward 'the master.' To the master's embarrassment I have informed him that I will be calling him this name in public to enjoy the reactions of bystanders.

I present to you the master.
Not to be confused with any reference to slavery which was sad.
(although some people think marriage is the last legal form of slavery
bringing me to the interesting topic of how awesome it will be when I refer to
the master by his new name at places like the grocery store).
Also not to be confused with any mockery of the hard work he has done.
Just the pure enjoyment I had when reading on the graduation program that the master's name was listed under "Master of Science and Counseling."

I think the master is cute.

Here's the master's family
minus Kim who was taking the photo and Mandi who was playing with the niece
He says, "it wasn't that hard" and the secret to success is, "showing up."
So get out there and show up to the things you want to accomplish.
So proud of you babe!

bird day card

2011-05-08T16:26:00.002-06:00

age of obsession

2011-05-06T21:50:00.003-06:00

We've all been there, obsessed with something. Sometimes it's normal and sometimes it's a little weird and sometimes it's really weird.

Obsessions By Age

Age 7-10: barbies, pretended to be interested in beanie babies, but really wasn't, dogs
Age 11: Hanson, classic skating, marrying Zac Hanson
Age 12-14: cheerleading, boys
Age 14-18: drill team/dancing, boys, going to college for free, the holocaust?
Age 18- Infinity: Lee <3
Age 18: the electoral college?
Age 21: Disappearance of Stacy Peterson/Drew Peterson's guilt {okay, seriously, you buy a big blue barrel, someone helps you put the barrel in your SUV, the barrel's gone, your wife is gone and your previous wife mysteriously died HELLO guilty}
yoga { seriously, 5 times a week for a year}
Age 22: running, yesssss
Age 23: Warren Jeffs+Polygamy=the root of all evil {Escape by Carolyn Jessop, read it, unless you're faint of heart; you will be seriously angry and creeped out, hence my obsession}

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been obsessed with?

do whatever it takes to get the moustaches

2011-05-03T09:57:00.008-06:00

Last night, it was Lee who said, "Let's just do whatever it takes to get the moustaches."

Best Birthday Celebration Ever

My birthday is on Friday, but we decided to celebrate on Monday. All I told Lee was that I wanted to go on a date. He drove me to Provo in search of a restaurant called, "Tango House." When we got to the address the place no longer existed. Nice. So we drove to Cafe Rio to discover our wallets no longer existed {actually we left them at home}. So we drove home, got our money and went back to Rio. Awesome so far right?

No really, it was awesome.

Pork Salad for me.
Pork burrito for Lee.
Micheal Jackson on the speakers.

More car time
Lots of Kesha on the radio

Then: Nickel Arcades. ---- Guys, I haven't been there since I was 12.
Surprising? Yes.
Disappointing? No.

the thing about one o clock church

2011-05-01T11:33:00.007-06:00

and a pointless picture just to prove to myself how green and not blue my eyes really are

As I sit on the couch watching biff, who is watching the window for any more intruders {he is on high alert since those fearsome fast collectors dropped by} I am lost in contemplation. Thoughts such as:

When will I finally escape the one o'clock church time slot? Due to moving and boundary changes we have had this time slot for at least 2 of our 4 married years, but I am thinking it's more like 3. I even had this time slot for my full two years of singles wards and you know what? I am over one o' clock church. I was over it 6 years ago.

When is enough finally enough as far as me enduring three years of Lee working on Sundays and going to church alone? Blah, I can't wait for Lee to get a new job.

I am so jealous of those people I saw out running on this beautiful day. The best part about Monday is going back to the gym.

Sundays are long. Sometimes I like it. Sometimes I don't.

and

What I am going to make for dinner?

Often times I am late to church. I have no kids to get ready and I drive the block from my house to my church. What is that? Even now I am sitting here procrastinating. I guess it's just daunting to think about sitting through 3 hours of church meetings without Lee to play hangman with or write notes to or give back tickles to or get back tickles from. This used to be so hard for me, but it's been a long dreary road of getting mistaken for a young woman or a single sister and I'm over it, but it still brings me a sense of melancholy. Especially when I entertain the idea that I might just feel a closer connection to God by hiking up the mountain and practicing some yoga and meditation rather than listening to people give talks or bear testimonies that I have a hard time relating to.
I do have a thing about obedience though.

So as much I am complaining I will go take a shower and wear a skirt. I'd love to top it off with flip flops, but you know how people are about that--that and jean skirts. Sheesh! Give it a rest, at least they are trying people!

So what is it that makes you sit on the couch and pretend you aren't going to church writing long blog posts when all along you know you will?

PS:) Reason No. 327 why I am so glad Lee married me: I can count on him to notice I changed my hair when not a single soul has; mostly because he knew I had an appointment, but who cares? I'm still giving him credit for it.

footloose & fancy free

2011-04-28T19:40:00.007-06:00

These are my new hairs; or my old hairs after changes. If it doesn't look different to you, then it's just a clue that my hair is too long b/c we cut 5 inches off these babies; it should also look darker overall.

Don't feel bad if you can't tell though. I once cut about 8 inches off my hair and my own grammy didn't even notice. It's okay though, the woman made noodles from scratch so she was just too busy to notice things like my hairs.

Today I have not been cooking up a storm, but a thunderstorm!

Today I cooked:

2 loaves of homemade bread
homemade brownies
dinner consisting of: chicken, mashed taters & asparagus

I guess that's it, but it sure wore me out

have you seen my mojo?

2011-04-25T20:46:00.005-06:00

I try to keep this blog updated about 3 or 4 times a week for a few reasons:

My life is super interesting and exciting
You people love reading about me
and lastly, uh... I got nothin' else.

Unfortunately, last week, I lost my mojo. You know, my mojo, that thing inside me that puts a positive and hilarious spin on all happenings in life. My mojo is definitely something that is required for blogging. I think it's back today, but not totally; so let me know if you see it somewhere.

In other news, last Friday I discovered that thrifting it up for unknown treasures is about 1,000 times more enjoyable at Savers vs. the D.I. One of the worst things about the D.I. is this really disgusting and unpleasant smell that assaults your senses as you walk through the door. That smell just is not there at Savers.
I offer as exhibit B. that relaxing elevator music plays in the background.
Exhibit C. shelves and merchandise are better organized (wherein comes the only downside: products are more accurately priced to match their value, resulting in often higher prices).
The last exhibit, exhibit D... if you are keeping track, are these amazing carts/baskets that you simply have to see to believe; frankly, I can say no more on the subject. I wish I had photographic evidence, but maybe next time.

As I enjoyed the wonderfulness that is Savers, I found the cookie jar of my dreams. I have been looking for a cookie jar, but if you have looked at cookie jars you might realize there is a category most cookie jars fall under and that category is tacky.
I somehow found this, the cookie jar of my dreams.
Note: This photo simply does not capture the beauty.

Before you delete the D.I. from your friends list I have to tell you the cookie jar was $7.99 which is almost a rip off considering this is someone's trash. Am I right? Plus, I got this weird deer for 50 cents {at the D.I.} which I just had to have for some odd reason.

Charming, yes?

Well, I think so, but if you don't... then whatever to you and yours.

I used to think my eyes were blue? Alas, they are green.

2011-04-21T08:46:00.010-06:00

Yesterday, I bought this lovely blu-ray. Sometimes when I watch films made from a novel, especially Harry Potter, I get confused on what was in the movie and how I pictured it in my mind. For instance, watching this last night, I was honestly confused thinking that the last time I watched the film it had included the scenes with the Gringotts break in. Apparently, I've only truly seen that in my mind. Maybe I'm the only one who does that? Maybe not.

According to this photo, by arm is spendidly hairy! According to the Red Cross, I have donated 1 gallon of my blood to their services. One gallon folks! It is actually not that much blood, but if I picture a big milk jug full of blood (my blood) it is quite disgusting. Did you know every time you donate blood they can save up to three lives? Did you also know that every time you donate blood they ask you really weird questions? It's awesome. Questions like: State your gender (haha!) or Have you had a tattoo in the last 12 months? or Have you ever had sexual contact with a prostitute? If that sounds exciting to you click here.

If you do the little click, click, you can learn more and even make an appointment to be asked those questions and other EXCITING ones, as well as get a wicked sweet arm bandage like mine, not to mention free cookies.

I still remember the first time I donated blood and I started getting asked these questions being the ripe and tender age of 18. My facial expression and my thoughts said wwwhhhaaaattt?

That (above) is one {pale}homely lookin' chick. Who is that ghost? But hey, at least she isn't orange, which in my mind, is worse.

wherein I air all of my pet peeves about motherhood

2011-04-16T08:01:00.011-06:00

I am warning you{you mothers}
81% chance of getting offended
ya know, read at your own risk & all that fine print junk

The picture above has nothing to do with anything--including this post--
only I must tell you I got all of this for -F-R-E-E-
one day when I found a four year old ($50) gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond from our wedding
it was glorious

A letter to my future self/my future self who has become a mother:

{more of a list of things to remember}

do not lose your identity when you become a mother; before you were a mother you were someone different, don't lose her {aka a reader, a runner, a wife, a dog lover, a teacher, a yoga doer, etc. } A mother is a great thing to be, but not the only thing to be.
people want to see pictures of you on your facebook account not just your baby; they want to see your baby, just not only your baby
do not get a mom haircut.
let me repeat that
do. not. get. a. mom. hair. cut.
do not let your children play where cars drive; biggest pet peeve on the planet!
biff loved you first; you loved biff first. Don't throw him under the bus when a baby comes
posting updates about every stinkin' thing your baby can now do, like roll over or eat cereal is actually really boring; I do believe this is why they invented baby books. I mean, it's almost as boring as the posts I already do about biff, but in all fairness there's no such thing as dog books.
don't be mad if none of your babies look like you {if you remember, before any babies came you wanted them to look like lee, exactly like lee because flip! he is adorable}
(added 4/21/11) Never use the word prego unless the discussion is about spaghetti sauce.

sorry to you, my friends if you are somehow involved with any of the above pet peeves because ya know, whatever I will probably do them too :( only I hope not, which is the point of this post

insert creative title---> here

2011-04-15T21:56:00.007-06:00

today I don't love

filing taxes
1-800 numbers & it's impossible to understand the employee's accent
ants! gah! the bane of my existence
I forgot to buy HP 7 on blu ray today
trying to mop the floor daily w/vinegar in an attempt to ward off ants w/o chemicals
the smell of vinegar; apparently the thing I have in common with ants
kids playing where cars drive
goofy 6 year old who said, "we don't like dogs peeing on our lawn" to me

today I love

fresh salad with sunflower seeds on top
exercise; does a body good
lee reading Harry Potter (first time ever) {he's on goblet of fire}
wandering AF DI w/my mom looking at plates
oreos!
lee! biff!
crazy accented 1-800 number employee calling me back and helping me
goofy 6 year old who said, "we don't like dogs peeing on our lawn" to me

PS: Not loving Will Ferrell; hows about you?

out on the town

2011-04-14T16:04:00.009-06:00

me: we should go somewhere and be fun since we are both home
lee: we just went to the gym, and I went to work today
me: well I didn't; I want to go out; I am easy to please... let's just go for a walk with Biff or go grocery shopping.
lee: okay, let's go grocery shopping.
me: but you have to go get dressed again, no basketball shorts

This is what happens when Lee goes grocery shopping with me..

and this is what happens while I wait for Lee to pick that stuff out...

PS: 1. We did buy some actual food; I even cooked dinner afterward.
2. When I go by myself I am much better at avoiding candy.
3. My hair is so gross! I cannot decide what to do with it *sigh* so I keep doing nothing

what are you going to do with your time off?

2011-04-13T17:45:00.005-06:00

sleep in
make the bed
oatmeal/whole grain toast/milk
morning news
Fable 3/xbox/lee
popcorn/cadbury mini eggs
walk biff
tuna/pickle/whole grain bread
gym/lee/5 miles
shower
strawberry+banana+ice+raspberry yogurt
blow dryer/long hair/takes forever
oprah/facebook
lee leaves for school :(
return OVERDUE library books
cake doughnut/sprinkles :)
feed biff
pink toe nails
yoga
lee comes home :)
leftover dinner/spaghetti/salad
biggest loser/hulu

are you grossed out by the sheer amount of food I consume? you should be.

sunday snuggles & thoughts about nothing

2011-04-10T10:17:00.011-06:00

biff only gives out snuggles in the morning hours.

glad to be home during the early hours for a few weeks

ps: these photos feature our current free couches

Lee and I BOTH get to have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off together. Praise the heavens -exclamation point- This sort of thing never happens. So I have a question for you people who don't have 45 minute commutes twice daily, or aren't working full time while working on a master's degree. You people that actually go out and do fun things. What shall we do instead of pretending like going to the gym and watching the Biggest Loser is a great night (let's be honest that IS a great night, but that's just Tuesday). What type of fun should we have? Suggestions welcome, right there in the comment section {you know right down there below this} go ahead, click it.

Meanwhile, after Lee goes back to work I just might employ such shameful entertainment as watching the office from season 1 or rereading twilight.

Speaking of the office, you should know that I full on cried when Michael Scott proposed to Holly because it was just so right. Amen.

Now, when I say, "full on cried" I mean a few glistening tears, not bawling. I have SOME pride. It is interesting to note though, that I did not cry -glistening tears- or otherwise during my own proposal or wedding. This of course, is by no fault of Lee's. I think my primary emotion was excitement and excitement just does not elicit tears.

Although, if someone made a film of those moments in my life with great lighting, hair, makeup, and background music: watching that would most likely make me cry because frankly, Lee is the peanut butter to my jelly and seriously everyone knows peanut butter is better than jelly (I personally don't even like jelly; I use jam) so jelly is really lucky here guys! And that my friends, was the longest and most poorly engineered sentence in the history of blog. Also the subject has been changed repeatedly throughout this post.

It must be noted that the point of this tirade is something along the lines of how hollywood/media gives us unrealistic expectations about love and how
true love is more about holding hands and being best friends who sometimes annoy each other, but decide to stick together no matter what instead of flowers (as much as I BEG Lee for flowers every time a holiday permits) and violin music playing while you kiss.
Which leads me to tell you my all time favorite movie is called The Mirror Has Two Faces and starring in it is my all time favorite (musical) person, Jewish or otherwise, Barbara Streisand. You should watch it.

I have yet to watch the newest episode of the office because I am afraid of both HATING and LOVING Will Ferrill. So what's to be done? At the moment, I am avoiding it and pretending that Michael Scott will never leave. Maybe we could do a petition?

Just in case you are wondering, my laundry still hasn't been put away.

couch coveting

2011-04-09T13:42:00.004-06:00

When I go to home furnishing stores, even cheap ones like IKEA, my heart is filled with lust. All that clean, new, matchy-matchy furniture. It makes my free furniture, my DI furniture, my where did we even get this from furniture, it makes all my furniture look like a bunch of garbage.

I have an idea to save all the money I would normally spend on diet dr peppers in a pickle jar. PS did you know the last week or two I have been cheating on my soda free life? Go ahead, throw stones at me. Hopefully visions of new couches can keep me out of the maverick.

Couches we have owned so far:

Flower patterned couches: source unknown
Couches passed from my grandma to my parents to us which we had to get rid of after a week because Biff would not stop sniffing them
Couches we got last year from Lee's parentals when they bought new ones; these are actually in really good condition and comfy, but they are definitely dated and I am really tired of Biff jumping on the recliner type ones and denting our wall :(

I am grateful for all the free couches we've had in our marriage; but I really want to buy some. You know, brand new, from the store and everything.

So come throw some quarters in my pickle jar.

Here's a little somethin, somethin, to make you giggle. I need some giggles today because we are going to do our taxes.

dear laundry

2011-04-08T18:42:00.003-06:00

dear laundry: put yourself away

I just posted this status on facebook.

I want you guys to know that I actually had a nightmare once as a child (approx 3-4 years of age) and my clothes came to life in order to chase me around my room... This is a vivid memory. I specifically remember being frightened to the point of tears and one of the animated garments offending me was a pair of tights.

I hope your clothes come to life for a time and fold themselves; but I hope they don't chase you around and make you cry!

a secret message

2011-04-07T21:08:00.009-06:00

It is 8:51 PM

Lee is baking a cake.

I think he is trying to send me a message.

A message about sweets.

Maybe the message is that we are out of ice cream...? Not that.

Maybe the message is that pineapple is not dessert.

...Men...

conference: thoughts from my brain parts

2011-04-03T13:01:00.009-06:00

image

This weekend I spent a lot of time watching LDS general conference. I like to use this blog to share my life with people and sometimes I try to be funny (unsuccessfully according to lee! jk) but I also like to use it as a journal. I am not one of those really awesome/spiritual people who take diligent notes throughout conference, but I did want to write down some thoughts/things I noticed while watching, as well as any talks I want to be sure to revisit when I get a chance.

Pretty awesome stuff:
75th Anniversary of the Church Welfare program
Day of Service coming up? Cool!
3 New Temples announced

Speakers I enjoyed:
Thomas S. Monson/Temples
David A. Bednar/Revelation {metaphor comparing revelation to a sunset}
Richard G. Scott/Marriage
I am excited to read another talk about marriage from the priesthood session by Thomas S. Monson that Lee told me about.

Topics/Themes that seemed to come up over and over:
Service, Service, Service
being childlike
2 great commandments: Love God and Love thy Neighbor as thyself
Being an example of the believers
Spreading the gospel with technology
Marriage: It's awesome; everyone should get marriaged!
Temples: They are awesome; everyone should go to the temple!

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said something pretty amzing which I did not write down, but paraphrasing the best I can remember, it went something like this:

Always share the gospel, and use your words when you have to.

I loved that; to me that means that being a missionary/being an example of the believers doesn't mean that you have to verbally proclaim your testimony to others; it simply means that people will be benefited by your example if you just do your best to carry the light of Christ with you always.

april showers bring may flowers;april snow?

2011-04-03T08:54:00.012-06:00

Biff's Potty Path

adorable christmas gift from one of my students

no words for this

long locks

jack frost

nipping at your nose

yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like eskimos

Have you been watching LDS general conference?
I have.
It's been wonderful. I am so grateful to have prophets on the earth.
If you'd like to watch/listen you can go here.

Happy Sabbath

poop post & pledge

2011-03-30T21:04:00.009-06:00

{I love how dogs are surprised by their own farts.
When a dog farts he looks around like what was that?}

Lately, I have noticed there is just too much poop on the internet; by poop I really mean poop, you know feces. At the end of this post I will pledge to keep poops off of my blog forever! Even after I have babies people! Poop has been all over the internet these days. Whether people are talking about disastrous diapers or puppy accidents it is everywhere I turn (even NieNie, so don't feel bad if you're guilty). I must admit that I have already alluded to Biff's bowels on this blog just a few posts ago; so before we make this blog doo doo free I have one story that you would be truly disappointed about if I did not share it.

First we begin with our heroin, let's call her terrible t. Terrible t is just minding her own business as she takes her sweet doggy out to do his business. Now terrible t hates cleaning up dog business so instead of cleaning up the doo like many (with a bag around their hand..eww) she uses a kitty litter scoop/shovel and a grocery sack. One might think that it is difficult for terrible t to walk down the sidewalk with a 50 lb dog pulling her along and holding the clean up supplies and it is. So terrible t takes that sweet doggy back inside before she does the cleaning up every time. Now, I understand dog poo is gross and no one wants to step in it. I get it! That is why I clean it up. BUT on this particular day this sweet doggy is sniffing around in preparation to do his dirty business and suddenly a neighbor comes outside to watch.
Let's call this neighbor, Doug (just because said neighbor resembles Doug Heffernan; and that's my second King of Queens reference).
So Doug comes out to watch the show. Before we go on with our story you must know that terrible t and Doug have never met. They have lived a few doors down for several months or maybe even a year, but they have never met. Terrible t is a terrible neighbor after all. So Doug comes out to watch the grass getting soiled.
Then, you know, feces happens.
So, terrible t, having never met Doug, ignores him and begins to take sweet doggy inside so she'll be ready for poop collecting with ease. As terrible t turns and takes her first step, Doug opens his mouth....

Without so much as a, "Hi, I'm Doug, nice to meet you." Doug proceeds to lecture terrible t about cleaning up the doodies and how his child is constantly finding poopers in the grass.
All terrible t can say is that she always cleans the business, but hello! terrible t is not the only dog owner around.

Conclusion: Awkward

Thanks Doug!

PS: Terrible t forgives Doug, even though they've never talked since the incident (2 years?), she's trying to be like Jesus after all.
But that's the best poop story I got.

Poop Pledge:

I, terrible t, pledge never to publish a single post, facebook status, or photo about poop from here on out. Whether the poop is Biff's, a future baby's or mine (who are we kidding here I am just far too beautiful or delicate for that... girls don't poop!) poo poos will not grace the web published by me from this point forward.

Take the pledge. Just say no to you know what.

thanksgiving daily

2011-03-27T10:31:00.004-06:00

Last night I made acorn squash with my dinner, but that is not why this post is called thanksgiving daily. Have you checked out lds.org lately? It is pretty nifty.

Today I am thankful for...

1. Jesus Christ
2. my life
3. lee
4. eternal marriage
5. biffy
6. oatmeal
7. cadbury mini eggs
8. music
9. speaking in church later today even though I am dreading it
10. family that love me
11. going off track in 2 weeks
12. my job
13. my cute students
14. the wonderful ladies I work with
15. cooking
16. technology
17. lee's job
18. having a long commute which has taught me to manage my time better
19. my healthy body
20. running
21. daylight savings
22. beautiful weather
23. not so beautiful weather that brings us water
24. whoever is reading this right now (you!)
25. people who write down their thoughts on their blog so I can learn from them
26. lee is graduating may 7 (master's degree) !

I really could go on forever. There are those out there who say people are 'fake' on their blogs and never share how they really feel, but I truly am happy and grateful to be alive. Sad and stressful things happen in my life, but sharing those things is just not my way.

the beavers and the bees

2011-03-25T22:08:00.009-06:00

As I sit here eating a 10:00 PM dinner feast of oatmeal and whole wheat toast it occurred to me that it's time for us to have a little talk. A little talk about the beavers and the bees. No you perverts, I said the beavers and the bees. You know, the busy creatures as opposed to the sexy ones? What the junk do birds and bees have to do with reproduction anyway? Maybe you can ask google for me.

image theft aided and abetted by google and credit goes here

Lately I have been too busy. If I didn't know better I would say that I have had the busiest three weeks of my life. I know though, that it's just not true. I have been a full time student and employee before so what I have been doing lately is really not that bad. I have over the past year though, started to become accustomed to a lazy life.

I must tell you, lazy days are grand. I did not used to feel this way but Lee has shown me the error of my ways. Marriage is awesome like that.

I absolutely, positively cannot wait to go off track (FOR FOUR WEEKS) in a mere matter of two weeks.

This is what has kept me so busy these past three weeks:

2 bridal showers
2 baby showers
2 four hour praxis classes
2 long days of parent conferences
1 sorta stressful praxis test
1 family birthday
2 activity day activities
3 sisters visit taught
30--45 minute commutes to or from work
buying new tires
going to the gym 15 times
trying to make dinner the few nights I was actually home
and all sorts of other householdy things (like laundry and dishes) getting done sometimes, ignored other times, and delegated to Lee occassionally

My warm bed is beckoning unto me and of course there is much to be done on my supposed day off so I better go get my beauty sleep.

BUT, one last thing before I go. As Billy Nye would say:
Consider the Following:

Today I have been thinking about hair... my hair to be specific. Should I change my hair to this color?

What say you of this?

P.S. Lee does not think that neither me nor my blog is funny.

P.P.S. Don't be too mad at him he laughs his head off at AFV and he's pretty darn cute so... *shrug*

snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

2011-03-22T21:44:00.004-06:00

one of my new favorite things is making my own salsa/pico de gallo
it is so stinkin' easy and yummy
one day I wanted some salsa, I threw this together and have been hooked ever since.
I am sure you could find lots of recipes online that are better or even the same thing, but this is what I do:

Cut up some tomatoes (pictured is 2 large ones)
Cut up some green onion (pictured is about 4 or 5 stems)
Cut up some cilantro

Mix together and enjoy; if you try it and it doesn't taste right it is because most recipes include lime, but I'm good without it.

Other Favorite Things:

smoothies in my magic bullet (fruit + yogurt + ice)
Lee; isn't he just the best thing since sliced bread? I think so.
reading strangers' blogs
Oatmeal! Literally: every stinkin' day
Meg Ryan movies

PS: March isn't even over yet and all the stores I have been to recently are sold out of Cadbury Mini Eggs; I swear they only produce a limited amount?

oops

2011-03-21T18:14:00.009-06:00

Yesterday I inadvertently led a lady in my ward to believe Lee and I are struggling with infertility; we are not {yet}.
You know what that say about assumptions...

So if someone tells you to pray for my fertility, forgetaboutit!

If... on the other hand, someone tells you to pray that Biff can enjoy the benefits of a fiber rich diet, I would say unto you, "Good Carp! It is the gospel truth.
Pray Early. Pray Often. For realsies people!
This clean freak cannot handle no more poopies in my house!"

{the baby hater with her niece 2 years ago}

Sister: I am mentoring 5 grad students.
Me: I definitely want to get a Master's Degree, but probably not for a while. I just want to keep my options open so that if I get burnt out from teaching I can make a career change to ESL, Special Ed., Counseling, or something different.
Sister: That's a good idea.
----awkward pause----
Me: Yeah, ... I'll probably wait until after I have kids that are older. Well, you know, if or when I have kids. You never really know about those things.
Sister: As soon as you stop trying to get pregnant, you'll get pregnant.
----awkward pause-----
Me: ....yeah...
----awkward pause----

Which is worse her assumption or my omission?

Another conversation related to baby-making... this conversation has happened word for word at least three times this year.

Random Person: So do you have kids?
Me: No
Random Person: How long have you been married?
Me: About 3 1/2 years.
Random Person: ---silence--- their thoughts: infertile or baby hater

Someday we will {hopefully} be fruitful and overplenish the earth, but for now.... save your prayers for the people of Japan (who need it), since I'm such a baby hater and all.

how you know it's saturday

2011-03-19T10:59:00.005-06:00

you know it's saturday when...

photography by lee

you wake up early, but not to go to work, to pick up your bountiful basket
you make an executive decision to abstain from capital letters for the day
you buy dean's zesty guacomole dip at 8:00 a.m., eat it at 10:45 a.m. and decide it is not quite the guac for you
you read a stranger's blog for at least 45 minutes while shows on E! (guess I can capitalize that) play in the background about celebrities and their clothes
you take a nap around 10
biff takes a nap around ten resting his head on your leg
you see your husband's ex-girlfriend's husband (did you follow that one...?) working at walmart at 8:00 am (who doesn't know you at all, you've just seen his face on facebook) and you remember: oh yeah, so glad I don't work in retail anymore, and oh yeah so glad I got be the one who married lee.
you pretend to do laundry
you are excited to go the gym, make a yummy dinner and {finally} watch the biggest loser
you write on the blog and try to decide if one of your bullet points is too rude to publish, but decide to go with it because hello, it's saturday
your parent conferences are over!
you have decided to dedicate the day to doing nothing, unless that something makes you smile
you decide it's high time for a pointless trip to target

and with that I'm off for an adventure.

proof of floss

2011-03-18T18:42:00.003-06:00

Today my head is empty and I have nothing to fill this post with; and therefore no proof of life.
I do however have proof of floss.

numeros de miercoles

2011-03-16T22:19:00.005-06:00

I stole this image from google image search; shame on me

time I left the house 6:45 AM
time I arrived home 10:15 PM
percentage of my cafe rio pork salad eaten in one sitting: 99.9%
number of laps I made my kids go outside and run with me from eating too much rio: 2
fraction of kiddos who ran the laps faster than me: 3/26
fraction of kiddos who finished at the same time as me 2/26
parent conferences I have already done: 2
parent conferences left to do: 24
times larger the gold's on redwood rd is in comparison to the gold's on 9th east in provo: at least 4
inches my jaw dropped when I walked in and saw how big it was: 3
times I have told Lee we need to look at gym quality and location when purchasing a home: at least 5
times he has told me the above is ridiculous: at least 5
miles ran: 5
minutes I spent in the (ewww) public shower so I wouldn't be smelly at Taylor's baby shower: 3-5
times I thought to myself, "how far away IS Centerville? Holy crow!": up to 7
people I really knew at the baby shower: 1
people I kinda knew: 2
people that were strangers: 6 (ish)
people who dressed me in a diaper all made of toliet paper that included suspenders and using tissues to increase my womanly parts which was somehow inspired by gaga: 2
pictures taken of that outfit: unknown
bizarre vanity license plates I noticed on i-15: 1 (LDSFAM)
times my car feared for his life due to inclement weather: 4
blogs I may or may not have stolen my ideas from last time I did this: 2

lo siento

years I have taken of Spanish class: 3
on a scale of 1-10 how well do I know Spanish? -3

sunday night par-tay

2011-03-13T21:10:00.010-06:00

Tonight we had a Sunday night par-tay! You may be asking yourself, "What kind of party do you have on the sabbath?" Well, it includes getting sugared up on fresh pineapple, red vines, and cadbury mini eggs.

Second, I start singing, "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," from The Sound of Music until Lee gets so tired of it he turns on some itunes tuneage.

All of this happens while we get in the zone, Carcassonne. Have you ever played that game? It is very fun, but something about playing it makes me feel like a nerd playing Dungeons and Dragons, but honestly, who cares? I bet nerds playing Dungeons and Dragons are having the time of their lives!

For the record, Lee won the first time and I won the second time. I haven't mentioned this yet in the world of blog, (although 26 fifth graders are acquainted with this information) but Lee basically beats me at EVERYTHING in this earthly life!!! Hopefully I can win at things when we get to heaven, but who knows? It is kind of a big deal when I win, at least in my mind. One of the few games I can actually win at (about 50% of the time) is Carcassonne.

Things Lee wins at: (or is just better at)
any video game especially if it includes guns
Stratego
Scum
Old School X Box Tetris
physical skills: snowboarding, softball, any old sport you can think of
basically he is good at everything

Things I win at (or am better at):
Eating more (funny, sad, & true)
Dancing/Yoga/Running
Sometimes Carcassonne
Facebook Tetris--- sometimes
I used to win at Dr. Mario, but that is a long story about a fight in our relationship over video games which is just too shameful to even admit.

So there, I lose a lot and we are very competitive, but I know right now what you are really thinking is, "Fresh pineapple? Delicious! Where did you get it? And how in the world do you cut one?"

Of course I got it in my bountiful basket. My magic bullet and I love all that fruit! I learned to cut the pineapple with this video. Whenever I don't know how to do something I look it up on youtube. Seriously people, I ask myself every day, "How in the h-e-double hockey sticks did people accomplish anything before google? Especially learning to cook." Thank you Al Gore for inventing the internet (joke).

If you think I have bad grammar right now I am just going to blame it on too many red vines (and you should too).

No post is complete without Biff, even if the photo is blurry. It made me laugh out loud. I thought you might be wondering what he was doing while we consumed mass amounts of sugar and this is it. Love That Dog! (Which is the title of a great children's book by Sharon Creech by the way)

I also loved that thunderstorm yesterday; I hope you did too.

This is me in the Walmart parking lot during the storm yesterday. Just including it since I am not featured in any other photos and I know you're dying to see the big zit on my forehead, but I foiled you and covered it up with my bangs. Blemishes on my forehead are the reason for me to cut bangs 89% of the time when I cut bangs, but this time I resisted the urge to cut them since I am trying to grow them out.

Hope you don't cut bangs to cover any blemishes.
And remember to use google to solve all of your problems in this life (Activating yeast in your bread dough, cutting a cantaloupe, driving directions, and who is that one guy in that one movie?)

Too bad google can't help me solve my latest problem... getting out of speaking in church in two weeks.
at least google can help me write it.

sepia photo booth @ discount tire

2011-03-11T19:12:00.005-07:00

Today I finally went to get my get my tire fixed so I don't have to fill it with air every 6-8 hours! Above is what I look like (in sepia) when I'm at discount tire, don't have internet and decide to figure out how to work photo booth for no reason. The best thing that happened at discount tire is when the nice salesman said they would flat repair my tire for free even though my tires weren't purchased there... awesome right? The worst thing that happened at discount tire was that the root of all this evil was a nail in the side wall of my tire, which if you never worked at sears automotive center as a tire saleswoman and you don't know about tires (like I do) means that the tire had to be replaced.

I am kind of high maintenance when it comes to tires. I buy clearance clothes and I go to the DI for fun, but I am kind of high maintenance about tires, so sue me. So I spent a bunch of money that should be going into the savings account at the end of the month after all of my "budget-y expertise goddess-ness," but at least I didn't spend it all. AND at least I can feel safe on i-15. Oh wait, I never feel safe on i-15. Thank you pot holes!

Well today is Friday and there is plenty to be happy about on Fridays, even when you spend a bunch of money at discount tire.

This lovely Friday I am happy that:

1. I am going to the gym as soon as I click, "publish post"
2. Saturday = sleeping in... (sort of, at least until I go take my praxis)
3. Tomorrow I am going to take Lee out on date, and it will {most likely} not include redbox
4. I did laundry yesterday; so I don't have to do it today
5. Yesterday I got 3 fun pieces of mail including: baby shower invitation, bridal shower invitation, &... wait for it... free trial to netflix. (which I will promptly cancel after the free trial, but free trials are great!)
6. There is milk in the fridge; which to me is just something to smile about. I lovvveee milk.

The last item of business I have for you is an overheard playground conversation (looked like 6th graders).

Boy 1: What are you mad? Why?
Boy 2: Cuz
Boy 1: Cuz why?
Boy 2: Silence
Boy 1: Cuz we made fun of you because of Twilight?

PS: Wish Lee and I BOTH luck on our praxis tests tomorrow

wednesday stats

2011-03-09T21:03:00.004-07:00

miles I drove: at least 100
time I left the house: 6:30 AM
time I got home: 8:45 PM
MPH I drove over the speed limit in i-15 construction: same as your mom
bowls of oatmeal eaten: 2
number of string cheese(s) eaten: 4
number of times I filled up my tire: 3
money I paid to fill my tire: 50 cents
number of times I changed the channel b/c I didn't want to hear the new britney song: 4
loud toots in my classroom when the only other noise was my voice: 1
number of giggles afterward: 0!!
students I need to test their reading level by Friday: 9
most reading levels improved by one kid in my class since August: 5!!! reading 30 min/night works people!
number of cadbury mini eggs (purchased last week) left in my teacher desk: 0
miles I usually run every day: 5
miles I ran today: 0 :(
questions missed on praxis practice test: 6
questions right on praxis pratice test: 18
times biff wagged his tail when I walked in the door: 123487098237408912374

bad mood

2011-03-07T21:25:00.009-07:00

Today when I got home from work I was in the worst mood and I still am...
Listed below are the accused culprits:

March snow storm
45 minute commute becomes 1.5 hour commute thanks to storm
my tire has a leak that I repeatedly have to fill with air
I had a test prep class (for a teacher licensure test I am taking on Saturday) from 4:15 PM-8:00 PM after work
I GET to the spend my evening at the class again on Wednesday
husbands leaving clothes in the kitchen
eating a mealy apple
and worst of all no time for the gym

I seriously HATE it when I don't get to go the gym. It ruins my mood for the day. Especially because one way I can guarantee to change my mood and turn that frown upside down is a good long run. I could forget about all the other causes of my bad mood if I could just get to the gym, but once 8:00 PM hits it's just too late.

So what do you do when you are being an ornery donkey and need to change your mood?

I usually...

RUN
eat some double-stuf oreos
take a nap
read quotes about positive thinking

AND that's all I got; so I need some more strategies; especially b/c if the day doesn't include running the day usually won't be including oreos... :(

What do you do?

the cookie thief

2011-03-06T15:50:00.006-07:00

Hope you enjoy this funny little poem to get your brain thinking on this lovely Sunday.

The Cookie Thief

by Valerie Cox

A woman was waiting at an airport one night
With several long hours before her flight
She hunted for a book in the airport shop
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop
She was engrossed in her book but happened to see
That the man beside her as bold as could be
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene
She munched cookies and watched the clock
As this gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by
Thinking "If I wasn't so nice I'd blacken his eye"
With each cookie she took he took one too
And when only one was left she wondered what he'd do
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh
He took the last cookie and broke it in half
He offered her half as he ate the other
She snatched it from him and thought "Oh brother
This guy has some nerve and he's also rude
Why he didn't even show any gratitude"
She had never known when she had been so galled
And sighed with relief when her flight was called
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate
She boarded the plane and sank in her seat
Then sought her book which was almost complete
As she reached in her baggage she gasped with surprise
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes
"If mine are here" she moaned with despair
"Then the others were his and he tried to share"
"Too late to apologize she realized with grief"
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

I think I'll go make some cookies of my own :)
and to try to give people the benefit of the doubt more often.
Enjoy your Sunday

are you a writer?

2011-03-04T18:12:00.019-07:00

Terrible T

1. Sometimes, I try

2a. School, reading & experience

3. School or work required writing (reports), to tell a story, to persuade, to express feelings or to capture a memory or a moment

4. Read widely, take classes, listen to people, watch people, research, and most importantly WRITE

5. Did the person follow the directions of the assignment, but made it their own?

6. Writing on my blog (much easier than journals)

7. "Whatever is in my head."

8. Yes, read it out loud to make sure there aren't any typos and I didn't say anything too stupid and/or have someone else read it to tell me if anything doesn't make sense.

9. Yes, once or twice a week.

10. Nat the Fat Rat and Nie Nie. Reading their interesting, funny and inspiring blogs made me want to write down everyday moments in a fun & easy way and share it with anyone who wants to read it.

11. Yes, anyone who wants to read it! BUT only when I feel like I am done. I always get bugged when Lee tries to read over my shoulder if it feels like it is only a rough draft.

12. I enjoy it when I am writing for no reason, but I dislike writing reports.

and a celebration of throwing in the towel

2011-03-01T20:54:00.008-07:00

As of late, I have nothing of interest to say or photograph. Today, I had every intention of posting photos of a day of nothing(exciting right?); but once I left the house I forgot to take any more photos. I did however take a few this morning while I got ready for work.

{lovin' my HUGE hand... I hope it reminds you of a King of Queens episode!}

In other news, today, March 1, must be the day for throwing in the towel or at least faltering on New Year's Resolutions because for the first time since early January Lee & I actually got a decent parking space at the gym--which excites me greatly.

Speaking of 'resolutions' of sort, I am still missing my DDP; but my teeth sure don't. I think they even look whiter. Maybe that's just from my new twice a day flossing though? (shrug) it's a mystery...

Have you thrown in the towel yet?

Mushy Gooey Smooches

2011-02-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

In honor of February the 14th and forced pressure for romance across the land to all, attached and unattached, I present {for your viewing pleasure} the greatest couples that never really existed...

Pam Beesly & Jim Halpert

Ross & Rachel

Harry & Sally

Johnny & Baby

Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy

Jack & Rose

I could go on forever, but it would just get more embarrassing as I go.
I would have to include Bella & Edward eventually,
despite my distaste for Robert Pattinson
and we just don't want to go there.

So only one more...

Harry & Lloyd

Sunday Morning

2011-02-20T11:19:00.001-07:00

and that's a wrap

things I just don't "get"

2011-02-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

There are some things in this life that I just don't get. I'm not saying I hate it (or you, if you fall in any of these categories), I'm just saying I don't get it.

1. Zumba

People go nuts over zumba, but for me it's just awkward. It's not even the sexy Latin moves that make me feel awkward. It's the fact that most people look really stupid doing it, but the main thing is how awkward it is when the (often Caucasian) instructors yell out things like, "aye yigh yigh," and expect you to shout it back. It just isn't for me. I love me some yoga, running, regular dancing and I often force myself to weight lift, but zumba isn't my cup of tea.

2. TMI on facebook...

All I can say is about this is why?

3. Negative attitudes.

My ideas about this can be quoted from the ever popular Bobby McFerrin song (Don't Worry, be Happy) "In every life we have some trouble. When you worry you make it double."

4. What's the dealio with the fact that whenever people are at Walmart (or in their cars) some people just lose their humanity?

What I mean is this; when in these two particular domains people begin to only care about themselves and if anyone gets in their way they will run you over without even an apology.

5. Watching sports on TV.

I am actually a huge advocate of playing sports. I love to be active and I think it is really important for kids to participate in team sports from a young age. There are some great lessons you can learn about life and about yourself through sports, but I just don't get watching them on TV. After a while it's kind of all the same and you don't know anyone on the team, so what is the point? If I've seen 30 football or basketball games it feels like I've seen them all.

diet dr pepper: a eulogy

2011-02-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

commend

My Dearest DDP,
It has been a long 25 days without your sweet brown nectar. I think of you often. Sometimes I gaze longingly at gas stations as I drive past. Sometimes when I am with water, I am actually thinking of you, but alas it is not the same my lover. Don't tell water, he would be crushed! I miss your bubbly and guilt free taste on my tongue. Going on errands has lost it's allure without you. My 45 minute commute feels dangerously drowsy without your perky personality. Even Biff misses the days when I would take him for a ride in the car just to visit you at some drive up window. I know not whether our separation will be temporary or permanent. Only time will tell. In July I will see the evil force that pulled us apart (the dentist) and see if it has all been worth it. I hope I have not abandoned you for naught. Though we cannot meet during the waking hours I will see you tonight, in my dreams.

And now for some quotes from my visit(s) to the dentist for your entertainment:

Dentist:
"Your teeth are really good at growing decay."
"Do you drink soda?"
"Do you floss?"
"What a trooper."
"You're going to feel a zinger!"

Other staff at the dentist:
"How long has it been since you've been to the dentist?"
"Your teeth are really white." (weird since my teeth are so good at growing decay)
Receptionist: Where should we go for lunch?
Hygienist: Taco Bell. {Me (only in my head): Gross the meat is 35% meat...?}

Me at the dentist:
"A long time..."
"Let's do this!" (followed by a fist punch in the air as I lay in the chair)
"What's going on with Reba remaking a Beyonce song?"
"My whole cheek is numb; it kinda feels like I got botox."

Happy Flossing!

PS: A eulogy VS an eulogy? I simply could not figure it out (even with the help of google). I followed my gut. Sorry if I am incorrect :(